Kaelo - Stories of Hope (originally known as Kaelo - The Miracle Stories) is a South African inspirational docu-reality television series produced by Kaelo Worldwide Media which highlights how communities and the public, private and civil sector are working together to develop South Africa.
The series premiered on SABC2 on Wednesday 26 January 2005, at 21h00. The first four seasons aired on SABC2, the next two on SABC1 and on e.tv from the seventh season on.
Kaelo - Stories of Hope highlights how communities and the public, private and civil sector are working together to develop South Africa. "Kaelo" is a seTswana word that means "guide".
The show tells these inspiring stories through the eyes of the people whose lives have been changed by the intervention and shares best practice on social development.
The series, which is part of a multimedia campaign sponsored by various companies over the years, first aired in 2005 and has since established a solid viewership base across a broad demographic.
Many of the projects and initiatives showcased over the years have reported heightened public interest, received increased funding and formed new partnerships as a result of being profiled on the series.
The heart of the story is always told from the beneficiaries' point of view - whether it's an inspirational leader from an NGO, a community member who has decided to take a stand or a beneficiary whose life has radically changed as a result of the project.
The show aims to uncover these heart-warming stories and tell them in a way that has meaning and makes a difference in the viewers' lives.
The series is accompanied by multimedia elements, including radio broadcasts in five local languages, a coffee-table book, an online portal and pull-out inserts in national print media featuring the stories.
The central message of Kaelo is that everyone can make a difference. The show hopes that by showcasing these stories on a multimedia platform that reaches a variety of audiences it can mobilise further investment, share best practices and facilitate the formation of further social partnerships.
The show was originaly known as Kaelo - The Miracle Stories for the first two seasons. Thereafter it changed its name to Kaelo - Stories of Hope.
The series has featured different presenters over the seasons, including Nothemba Madumo (Seasons 1-3), Criselda Kananda (Season 4), Siphiwe Hlabangane (Season 5-6), Joel Zuma (Seasons 7-8) and Lerato Mvelase (Season 9-10).