Make Your Move is a South African youth reality television series created and directed by Dumisani Phakathi and produced by the NGO loveLife which features young people from across South Africa who, faced with daunting circumstances, share their journey of introspection, their fears and ambitions about their lives.
The series premiered on SABC1 on Monday 11 April 2011, at 19h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 half-hour episodes in the series.
Episode Synopses
Synopsis
The 13-part show features young people from across South Africa who, faced with daunting circumstances, share their journey of introspection, their fears and ambitions about their lives with the show presenter, Naledi Moleo.
Each episode demonstrates young people's ability to face challenging situations with courage, resilience and determination to take control of their own destiny.
Presenter, 23-year-old Naledi Moleo, meets each character in their home and accompanies the character on a journey of discovery through honest conversations and purposeful enquiry into the major issues they face.
Without judgement, Naledi supports the character in their quest to take the next step and change their situation.
Using a set of personal development tools, straight talking and sharing heartfelt reflections, together they explore issues, challenges and decide what it will take to make a move – no matter how small, to a better place.
The main aim of the show is to empower the youth to come up with practical solutions to challenges they face in their daily lives.
Watch the youth of Mzansi on the move as they stand up to take control of their lives.
Characters
Pizza
Lerato, aka, Pizza is a young woman from Soweto who has spent the last three years studying tourism. Now she's ready to launch herself into the job market. Pizza is a lesbian who is masculine in her dress and appearance. She fears that coming out will ruin her career plans.
Pizza is also anxious as she wants to come out to her father but is afraid of his reaction. She has tended to define herself solely in terms of her sexuality and isn't able to see herself as the smart, strong professional woman she hopes to become.
Make Your Move helps the 21 year old to face her fears, challenge her own identity and to fearlessly face her future.
Phindi
Phindi is a young mother who lives in Orange Farm Gauteng. She is 22 years old and dropped out of school to have a baby.
Phindi has exceptionally low self-esteem: she is ashamed of her mistakes and doesn't believe she deserves a better life. However, Phindi loves her son so much and the joy he brings her – which acts as a strong motivator to pursue her dreams.
Make Your Move helps her to look at herself from different perspectives and see that she is a dynamic, competent young woman with her whole future ahead.
Noxolo
Noxolo is struggling with intense mood swings and violent outbursts that have alienated the people closest to her. Because of her violent behaviour, she has been moved from place to place and feels extremely lonely as a result.
The 23 year old lost her own mother at a very young age and is worried that her behaviour will lead to her own child being raised without a mom.
Noxolo can be wonderfully pleasant and outgoing, but her mood swings mean she is in constant conflict with everyone around her.
Through Make Your Move, Noxolo is forced to take a hard look at herself, and realises she needs help. Through counselling and reaching out to her family, Noxolo is able to identify her problems and start dealing with them.
Prudence
Prudence is a young woman from the Cape who suffers from desperately low self-esteem. Growing up in a community where she felt different from everyone around her has led her to hating herself, her body and her appearance.
At age 17, she has already tried committing suicide because of this debilitating self-doubt.
Prudence, however, is an exceptional writer with a sharp mind. She simply needs the tools to realise that her inner talents are worthwhile, and that by focusing on what she's good at, she can learn to love herself.
Nomthinteki
Nteki is a hard working Matric student from the Free State. The 19 year old is incredibly capable, taking care of her mentally-ill father without her mom or the assistance of any other family member. She has goals and dreams, but these are being hampered by the lack of an identity booklet.
Nteki is a fighter. She refuses to give up or to take no for an answer.
Despite having to deal with the rejection from her mother's family, Nteki is determined to take her destiny in her own hands and create a better future for herself.
Thando
Thando is a 20 year old from Soweto who has allowed his history of drug use to almost destroy his health and life. He started smoking Nyaope at a young age and dropped out of school at Grade 10.
Thando wants to stay off drugs and take care of his young son, but he does not have a Matric and is afraid that the temptation to relapse into drug use will get the better of him.
Make Your Move provides Thando with the opportunity to map out a future for himself, where he can see himself remaining drug free, returning to school and even starting a business.
He is also able to make amends for the hurt he has caused, thereby enabling him to take concrete steps to securing a better future for him and his son.
Sibongile
Sibongile is a young community activist in Klipgat in the Northern Province. At the tender age of 21 she is already committed to improving her community. She wants to clean up the rubbish dump that is a blight on her home.
She wants to be proud of her environment and to engage her community in making Klipgat a better place to live.
Sibongile is a strong and focused woman who needs to sharpen her goals to motivate her community to create the change she envisions.
Nomsa
Nomsa is 25 years old and HIV positive. She lives in Mpumalanga with two children. It is imperative that she finds out her CD4 count in order to know if and when she needs to start medication.
However, Nomsa is afraid to admit her status to her family, which she needs to do in order to start effective treatment.
Nomsa desperately wants acceptance from her mother, feeling that she has been a bad daughter. All she wants is the love and support of her family.
Facing her HIV status and admitting it to her family is a huge move for Nomsa – one that will help to ensure a future for her young family.
Rhulani
As an openly gay young man in rural Limpopo, Rhulani has already made a number of moves towards creating a better future. But, due to some of the mistakes in his past, he is now HIV positive and worried about the stigma of this within his family and community.
He wants to openly address his HIV status in a way that will encourage his community to talk about HIV and to get tested too. Rhulani is a remarkably strong and brave young man who is ready to tackle the stigma of HIV head on.
With the support of Make Your Move, the 22 year old is able work with his family and his community in dealing with the realities of the virus.
Nelson
Nelson is a 19-year-old young man with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He needs to look after her younger siblings after his stepfather walked out.
He has made some mistakes in his own life, spending time in jail for theft, but now he wants to build a future for his family.
Nelson is afraid that he will have to leave school to get a job and provide for his family. He does have entrepreneurial spirit and is inspired to start his own business.
In fact, Nelson has big dreams and is determined to regain the respect of his community – and respect for himself.
Together with Naledi, Nelson takes concrete steps that will enable him to walk a new path and achieve his goals.