Episode Summaries – Series 3
| Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 |
| Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 |
| Episode 9 | Episode 10 | Episode 11 | Episode 12 |
| Episode 13 |
Episode 1: The Curse
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i) | Margaret and Matano come back to Makutano after their wedding. Anna thinks their house is haunted. They are moving into where Nancy and Albert lived (Nancy has gone to Nairobi to start her course). They tell Albert that they are supporting George and Celina who are orphans, but have stayed in their own house. | Orphan care |
Citizenship 1.2 |
| Maspeedy is writing love songs for Small Sharon. PP hasn’t heard from Red and is unhappy about it. Karis visits Cheryl in the hospital – she is recovering from a bullet wound (that was meant for Karis). His parents arrive. Cheryl says she can’t walk although the bullet hit her shoulder. | |||
| Albert leaves and laughs about the ghosts in the house. Matano and Margaret start arguing. Anna believes that Margaret’s brother-in-law has put a curse on Margaret. | |||
| Anna is pregnant again and has no money because Josiah (her husband) has taken it. She begs Mama Mmoga to help her. She employs her to sell porridge. | The importance of attending ante-natal clinics | ||
| Margaret tells Matano that she thinks the house is cursed and that she is cursed too. The photo of their wedding is broken and she cuts herself on the glass. | |||
| Part ii) | Doctor Charles tells Anna that she should come to the ante-natal class. She makes excuses. Cheryl CAN walk! | ||
| Albert leaves Makutano. Margaret tells Mama Mboga that she is scared that the house is bewitched. She then discovers that she has lost her wedding ring. | |||
| Anna tells Mama Mpima that her magic has worked and she now has a job selling porridge. Mama Mpima tells her not to tell anyone of her witchcraft – it could get her into trouble. | |||
| Maspeedy continues to write love songs for Small Sharon but Small Sharon fancies PP. The two gossip about Anna’s husband, Josiah, who is a truck driver who keeps impregnating Anna. Matano introduces PP and Maspeedy to the notion of sileage – it should increase milk productivity in the dry season. | Introduction to sileage and what it is | ||
| Doctor Charles tells Anna that she should be sleeping under a mosquito net and warns her of the dangers of delivering at home. She needs to consider family planning and the doctor encourages Josiah to come to the next session. He also tells Anna that she is expecting twins! | The importance of ante-natal care | ||
| Margaret goes to Mama Mpima, the witchdoctor, who lifts the curse on the house. Margaret believes it. | |||
| PP sings to Small Sharon for Maspeedy and she kisses PP! |
Episode 2: Positive Energy
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Harrington is dismissive of PP, who is composing a song. He tells his son to take the initiative and start working. | ||
| Karis wants to postpone marrying Cheryl. His father says if it’s to do with money, he will pay. Washington comes and tries to find work at the bar. | |||
| PP approaches Matano to find out how to make sileage. | Benefits of sileage |
Science Knowledge, skills and understanding 1 |
|
| It’s Diana’s birthday and Harrington is stressed. Bernadette tells him to take it easy. Small Sharon has a date with PP. Maspeedy is cross. | |||
| They have a lesson from Matano on how to make sileage. Harrington’s suffering from chest pains. He will not consider subdividing his farm yet. Bernadette is nagging him. Hope (their daughter) enters just as he keels over… | How to make sileage- quite technical! |
Science Knowledge, skills and understanding 1 Geography 1.6 |
|
| Part ii): | The sileage preparation continues. | …and more sileage preparation | |
| Washington is desperate for money. Karis lends him KSh2,000 (£20). Hope sees Karis with Cheryl and they greet one another. Cheryl tells Hope that she and Karis are getting married. | Money lending – small business | ||
| Dr Charles says that Harrington will recover from his heart attack, much to the Barakas’ relief. |
Episode 3: Battle of the Sexes
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Mabuki asks the market women to clean up the street – it’s full of litter. The new chief is about to come to town. Hope overhears the conversation. Mr. Mabuki comes to the health centre and tells Dr Charles that he wants to show the new chief Makutano’s medical facilities. | ||
| PP is struggling with the milk business without Maspeedy. He misses his date with Small Sharon. She wants to go dancing tonight to make up for it. He agrees. | |||
| Hope tries to talk to her mother, but Bernadette is busy finding her husband’s briefcase which has all his papers in (she thinks he might die). | |||
| Mulani approaches Karis – he wants to borrow money. | |||
| Maspeedy is still angry with PP for ‘stealing’ Small Sharon. | |||
| Rose asks Mr. Mabuki to bring the new chief to the school. Everyone’s gathered to meet the new chief and it turns out to be ….Hope! | Leaders can be women too! |
Citizenship 1.1 Geography 1.7 |
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| Part ii): | Hope means business; she has big plans for Makutano. | ||
| Mama Mpima tells her daughter (Stella) that she should not hang around with boys. She will get pregnant and that will bring real shame on the household, as she is not yet circumcised. | Female ciricumcision – introduction to issue | ||
| Hope tells Dr Charles that she wants him to go out to the community more and not wait for them to come to him, especially on issues related to family planning. She asks him why men find women in positions of power so difficult to accept. | Gender roles |
Citizenship 1.1 |
|
| George tries to kiss Kara in the woods. She is reluctant and he’s cross. | |||
| Hope’s parents are shocked that she is the new chief. It’s not what they had in mind. Bernadette is especially scathing. | |||
| Winston tells Karis that he shouldn’t marry Cheryl if he has any doubt. He needs to be honest with himself. | |||
| Hope gives a speech in market place about keeping the place tidy and litter-free. People are sceptical. | |||
| Karis calls off the wedding with Cheryl – she leaps out of bed and he realises she’s been lying about her condition. He walks out. | Women can be leaders too |
Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Winston and Priscilla are against Hope being the chief, because she’s a woman. But she has managed to motivate the people to tidy up the street and she promises that she will win their respect. |
Episode 4: Schemers
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Anna complains that her children want money for text books. Mama Mboga tells her that text books are free – she is a member of the Parent Teacher Association. | Free books at school | |
| Washington approaches Mr. Mabuki for a job but Mabuki refuses. | |||
| Matano tells Hope about the Women’s Group venture to grow produce and how he has lent them money and trained his wife Margaret to become Treasurer, and that they have started to make a profit. But nothing is growing on the plot! Small Sharon went on her date with PP last night, but there was a curfew, people were arrested and she spent the night in the cells where she has picked up head lice. | |||
| Chief comes to PTA meeting and says she wants all financial transactions to be recorded, on a black board, so everyone can see what happens to funds. Anna complains about not having text books. Mrs. Mulani is embarrassed; her husband had the business of supplying text books to the school. Chief suggests a book audit. | Transparency of school funds |
Citizenship 1.1 |
|
| Bill tries to recruit a colleague (his previous one, Ben, has stayed in Jamaica) with the help of the two Sharons. Not looking good until Dodgy makes his entrance! | |||
| Part ii) | Matano is furious with Margaret for not telling him that the Women’s Group have not yet agreed on what to plant on their plot. He also shouts at her for not keeping the financial books. She confesses that she can’t write. That is why she has given the records to Mama Mboga to keep. | ||
| It turns out Dodgy is Ben’s cousin. | |||
| Mabuki comes to Matano and asks him to go through the school records to see where the missing books are. They complain about Hope, who appears to be out to arrest people, rather than working with the community. | |||
| Washington tries to get Snake to give him meat on credit. Snake refuses. | |||
| Hope interviews the school’s deputy head who eventually confesses that he stopped keeping records of who got which books. He is guilty and Hope fires him. The books are recovered and the PTA work out a system that will keep track of their whereabouts from now on. | Transparency of management of school funds |
Citizenship 1.1 |
|
| PP is stressed, so Dodgy gives him a joint and tells him it will make him feel better. PP is reluctant but smokes it. | Adolescence and drugs |
PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3 PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2 1.3 Citizenship 1.3 |
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| Rose says Washington can bring his papers to the school tomorrow and she might give him a job. | |||
| Margaret forgives Matano and he promises to teach her how to keep the books. | Beginnings of adult literacy |
Citizenship 1.2 |
Episode 5: A Thief in the Night
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Robbers break into Mama Mboga’s house at night, force her out of bed and steal the Women’s Group’s money from under her bed. | ||
| Red is back in town. | |||
| Baraka is out of hospital and lamenting the state of his farm. He blames PP for neglecting it. He asks Maspeedy where PP is, and Maspeedy thinks he’s with Small Sharon. In fact, he’s passed out from smoking and drinking and Dodgy is trying to revive him. | Drugs and adolescence |
PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3 PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2 1.3 Citizenship 1.3 |
|
| Red makes out that she’s made lots of money singing in the city. | |||
| Mama Mboga tells Hope that all of her money has gone. She can’t bring herself to tell the other market women. | |||
| Anna approaches Karis to borrow Ksh2,000/. Red goes to the Sharons to get her hair done and Big Sharon hints that Small Sharon has been seeing PP (Red’s ex-boyfriend). Baraka finds PP and is furious that he is drunk and out of it. Small Sharon makes it clear that she and PP are together. Red is horrified. | |||
| Part ii): | Hope wants to begin a local crime prevention group to stop the likes of Mama Mboga’s theft occurring again. | Community action against theft |
Citizenship 2.3 |
| They suspect Snake (they recognise his trainers and he has a large knife). | |||
| Mabuki is not supportive of Hope’s Crime Prevention idea; he’s still not happy that the new chief is a woman. | Prejudice against women leaders | ||
| Karis makes a move on Hope and asks her if they might still be together if he hadn’t gone to London all those years ago…Cheryl is watching them. | |||
| Dodgy comes to get PP drunk again – PP’s up for it. Maspeedy disapproves. | Alcohol and adolescence |
PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3 PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3 Citizenship 1.3 |
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| Snake, Mulani and Karis gamble. | |||
| PP and Dodgy are drunk and hotwire the taxi. | |||
| Hope gets the community to elect a chairperson of the crime prevention group. They vote for Mr. Mulani. | |||
| PP and Dodgy smash the taxi. |
Episode 6: Stepping onto Toes
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | PP and Dodgy are painting the Health Centre as punishment for stealing the taxi (community service). Dodgy asks PP if he wants to smoke a joint but PP says he’s never doing drugs again. Dodgy sees Hope and runs away. Hope has organised a male reproductive health seminar but Dr Charles wants to watch the football match! Hope says it’ll go on as planned. |
Community service and drugs Health awareness campaign |
PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3 PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3 Citizenship 1.3 |
| Jonathan Mulani has prepared breakfast. He’s closed the bookshop and taken over the butcher’s shop. Red asks for money to buy a dress but her parents tell her to get a job. Jonathan puts Rose’s necklace in his pocket. It turns out Kara helped to make breakfast! Jonathan and Rose decide to go out for dinner. | Money and stealing |
Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Dr Charles comes into the barber’s to tell them about male reproductive health seminar but they’re not interested. There’s football on! Winston says he won’t go to the seminar unless Dr Charles is advocating no sex before marriage. Dr Charles says male reproductive health isn’t just about STIs – also cancer and infertility. Mabuki is not supportive of Hope’s crime prevention idea. | Health awareness campaign | ||
| Rose asks Kara and Stella if they have seen her necklace. Kara thinks she’s being accused and storms off. | Adolescence – relationship with parents | ||
| Snake is working for Jonathan on the meat stall. Josiah doesn’t believe in contraception but Dr Charles says women have rights to family planning. Jonathan disappears to watch the football; he doesn’t want Rose to know. | Contraception | ||
| Cheryl is asking Red about Nairobi but she remains elusive. She asks Cheryl about the accident and Karis. Red says Cheryl will find someone else. She’s looking for a job but Cheryl doesn’t need an assistant. | Money worries | ||
| Anna is cross with Mama Mboga for ‘losing’ their money. Margaret says Anna is stressed. Red offers to run the internet cafe for Mama Mboga. | |||
| Stella complains to Kara that her mum doesn’t trust her. She wants to become a lawyer. Kara tells Stella about George and Stella runs off to spread the gossip. Dr Charles talks to the market women about vasectomy. He is talking to Anna about contraception when Josiah walks up and threatens her. Mama Mboga and Margaret throw vegetables at Josiah and he runs away. |
Adolescence – education and relationships Family planning and vasectomy |
PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4 |
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| Part ii): | No-one has turned up to the seminar. They’re all watching the football. Karis is taking bets and Jonathan bets Rose’s necklace! Washington still owes Karis money. | Gambling, debt | |
| PP finds Red in the internet cafe. PP is upset that Red didn’t write to him when she was in Nairobi. Red saw PP smoking dope. | Relationships, drugs |
PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3, PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 Citizenship 1.3 |
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| Hope is upset that no-one is in the seminar. She’s planning something... | |||
| Kara apologises to George for not kissing him; she was scared. The football match is very close. Dodgy bets Bill that his team will lose – or Bill will do his community service for him. PP asks Dodgy about the weed. Hope switches the TV off! She reproaches the men for not taking an interest in their own health. The men are all embarrassed. Harrington Baraka tells her to stop. |
Health awareness Women leaders |
||
| Rose asks Snake where Jonathan is – he says he’s at a friend’s funeral but she sees him. They were supposed to go out for dinner. Dodgy has lost the bet. He’s not allowed to speak for 7 days now! | Lies in relationships | ||
| Baraka says Hope should’ve chosen a better time to talk to the men. They aren’t comfortable with a women talking to them about sex. | Women leaders, sex education | ||
| Hope apologises to Dr Charles for not rescheduling the seminar. But Charles says 10 men signed up! Hope has an idea for another campaign. |
Episode 7: Goals
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | The men are practising for a community football match. Hope brings them a locally-made football. Baraka will referee. Hope says the teams will be mixed sexes. The men laugh. |
Alternative ways to raise awareness Community participation |
Citizenship 1.2, 2.3 |
| Anna isn’t well but refuses to go to the clinic. Hope persuades the market women to play football. | Cost of healthcare | ||
| Big Sharon says PP is just a boy. Small Sharon needs a real man! | |||
| Bernadette is cross with Hope for letting her father play so soon after his heart attack. Bernadette says she could have helped Hope organise the football. | Family relationships | ||
| Patricia says the women should be working, not playing football. Winston thinks it’s a fantastic idea; he’ll gain votes! Patricia complains that Winston’s so busy. They wonder what Karis is up to and where he’s getting his money from. | Gender roles | ||
| Karis is asking Snake for money. He wants it by tomorrow. Mama Mboga asks Karis for a loan. Karis wants something for a deposit but Mama Mboga doesn’t have anything. | Illegal money-lending | ||
| Anna and her children are going to see Josiah playing football but she’s going into labour! She sends the children alone to watch it. | Childbirth | ||
| Bernadette tells Baraka he shouldn’t play. Dr Charles agrees. Washington will referee. Dodgy is smoking dope before the game. PP has decided drugs are stupid. | Health and drugs |
PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3, PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 Citizenship 1.3 |
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| Bernadette is selling melons and charging the players! She won’t let Maspeedy play either. | Making money | ||
| Hope thinks a season-long football tournament will stop the youth turning to drugs. Winston offers to help – he tells Hope he wants to run for MP. | Anti-drugs |
Citizenship 2.3 |
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| The match begins. | |||
| Part ii): | The midwife goes to see Anna. She’s in a lot of pain. | Problems with childbirth | |
| Dodgy doesn’t look well. He scores an own goal! | Consequences of drugs |
PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 |
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| Anna has to go to the hospital. She gets her son to fetch Josiah and the doctor. | |||
| Half time. The footballers talk about contraception and vasectomy. Dr Charles reassures Bill that it doesn’t cause impotence! Josiah sounds interested. He realises times have changed. | Vasectomy | ||
| Small Sharon tells PP he needs to grow up. She finishes with him. He makes up with Maspeedy. | Relationships | ||
| Karis agrees to loan Mama Mboga the money but says the interest will be high. | Illegal money-lending |
Citizenship 1.2 |
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| The Makutano team wins! | |||
| Mama Mboga lies to Margaret about where she got the money. | |||
| Drinks for everyone at Mabuki’s bar. Winston congratulates Hope – maybe having a woman chief isn’t so bad. | Women leaders – acceptance | ||
| Josiah comes to the hospital. Anna has survived but the babies have both died. If she’d come to the health centre sooner, Dr Charles could have done something. | Importance of healthcare during pregnancy | ||
| PP and Red talk. They agree to be friends. A strange city man comes to see Red. | |||
| Josiah apologises to Anna. She says she doesn’t want any more children. He agrees to have counselling and they’ll discuss a vasectomy when she gets better. | Vasectomy and family planning |
Episode 8: Caught Red Handed
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Snake is talking to Toby about magic. Rose comes and takes him away. Jonathan owes her money and is supposed to take Toby to the dentist. | Family and debt | |
| Mama Mpima says she can cure Margaret of her HIV. Anna encourages her to try it. Pierre Solaris (Red’s producer) is flirting with Cheryl. Red wants to talk to him. | HIV, witchdoctors |
PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.3, 1.5 |
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| Mr Mulani wants a shave. Bill and Dodgy are being lazy. | |||
| Red signed a dodgy contract with Solaris and has spent 3 months singing in dodgy bars for no money. He tells her to come to Nairobi but she refuses. She only signed the contract because he said he loved her. He asks her for 100,000 shillings. They slept together without protection. She’s not pregnant but is worried she has an STD. He isn’t interested. |
Illegal contract, manipulation Consequences of unprotected sex |
PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.1, 1.2 |
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| Jonathan hasn’t paid Snake yet. The butchery business is not doing well. Rose tells him off – he’s bought a new shirt and they don’t have any money. | Problems of debt | ||
| Dodgy tries to impress Solaris by rapping. He’s not interested. Solaris hasn’t paid Karis his rent. Solaris gives him a ring as a deposit. | |||
| Red snaps at Cheryl. She tells her about the unprotected sex. Cheryl tells her to get treatment before it gets worse. | Danger of STIs | ||
| Winston asks Rose what’s troubling her. Everyone thinks Jonathan is abusing her. She says she’ll never let anyone harm her children. Rose receives message for Jonathan – she picked up his phone by mistake. Toby’s not at school! Jonathan didn’t bring him. | Relationships and children | ||
| Red goes to Dr Charles. He thinks she’s got an STI but he’ll run tests. He wants her to take an HIV test. She needs time to think. | HIV testing | ||
| Part ii): | Karis asks Red if she’s in trouble with Solaris. She tells him the truth and gives him the contract to read. Red thanks Cheryl for making her go to the clinic. Cheryl tells her she should get tested for HIV. |
Illegal contract HIV testing |
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| Solaris sells Snake headache medicine which he can sell on. Not sure if it’s real or fake. Toby witnesses the dodgy deal. | Danger of un-prescribed medicine | ||
| Red takes a test. | HIV testing | ||
| Margaret goes to see Mama Mpima. She casts a ‘spell’ and Margaret throws her ARVs into the fire. | |||
| Snake is sick from drinking some bad soup. Rose takes Toby home. | Witchdoctor vs modern medicine | ||
| Red has gonorrhoea but is HIV negative. It’s good she got it treated as gonorrhoea can lead to infertility. | |||
| Bill and Dodgy laugh at Snake. Karis throws Solaris out of the bar and he leaves Makutano, but says he’ll back. | Importance of STI testing | ||
| Rose shouts at Jonathan in the street. He’s drunk and he’s having an affair! He says Rose makes him feel inadequate. Winston intervenes and takes Rose home. | Alcohol and marital problems |
Episode 9: Spare the Rod
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Jonathan is living in a room at the bar. The market women are harvesting their first vegetables but Margaret doesn’t feel well. She faints. | Danger of not taking HIV treatment | |
| Hope’s taking the children to school but Brian doesn’t want to go. Baraka takes them. | Absent mother |
Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Dr Charles thinks Margaret’s drugs aren’t working. Her CD4 count is low. Matano goes to see her but she doesn’t tell him the truth. | HIV and lying | ||
| Maspeedy tells PP he hated going to school. PP is working hard to prove himself to Red. He tells Maspeedy he’s not interested in Small Sharon, but that she’s not interested in Maspeeedy. | Relationships and hard work | ||
| Anna has a headache. Mama Mboga gives her the medicine she bought from Snake. Anna reveals she told Margaret to go and see Mama Mpima. | Un-prescribed drugs | ||
| Rose is impressed with Washington’s teaching, but when she leaves the room he makes them kneel outside when they get their sums wrong. | Corporal punishment | ||
| Anna’s headache medicine didn’t work. Maspeedy goes to see Mama Pima. | Danger of un-prescribed drugs, witchdoctor | ||
| Mama Mboga tells Matano about Margaret going to the witchdoctor. | |||
| Mama Mpima says she can make Small Sharon fall in love with Maspeedy. Matano and Mama Mboga burst in and confront her. They take her to the health centre. | |||
| Washington continues to send the children outside. | Corporal punishment | ||
| Part ii): | Dr Charles explains that there’s no cure for HIV. | HIV, importance of taking medication | |
| Hope asks Bernadette for some space – she’s finding it hard to bond with Diana. They go to the school and find the children outside. | Bonding with children | ||
| Maspeedy had his eyes shut and thinks Mama Mboga and Matano were spirits! He thinks the magic has worked. PP says he should test it out on Small Sharon. | Superstition |
Citizenship 2.1 |
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| Hope explains to Rose that corporal punishment is illegal. They confront Washington. Rose explains if it happens again, he’s out of a job. | Corporal punishment is illegal | ||
| Maspeedy still isn’t having any luck with Small Sharon! | Romance | ||
| Mama Mpima tells Margaret she isn’t cured. Anna tells Dr Charles about her headache and he thinks the tablets look dodgy. | Witchdoctors don’t work | ||
| Diana got an A at school today. Hope is pleased and promises to spend more time with her. | Parent’s relationship with children | ||
| The headache medicine is fake. Mama Mpima gives Margaret her money back. Margaret hasn’t contracted any serious diseases. She says she’ll learn to accept her HIV status. George says the market women can farm his land as no-one is using it. Matano will have to check the legalities. |
Fake drugs Living with HIV Making the most of land |
Episode 10: Magical Nights
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Red is organising a talent show today. The first prize is a colour TV. Maspeedy is going to enter but Brian doesn’t think much of his song! | Community events |
Citizenship 2.3 Geography 1.4 |
| Snake still owes Karis money but asks for another loan. He refuses. Karis doesn’t want the talent show to be held at the bar. | Money-lending, debt | ||
| All the profits from the show are going to buy equipment for the market women to grow their vegetables. Hope says there shouldn’t be a problem in them using George’s land. | Co-operative farming | ||
| Red isn’t singing. She’s quit music. | Career prospects | PSHE (economic wellbeing) 2.1 | |
| Hope suggests Red become a peer counsellor. Karis gave Red the pool table for the internet cafe. Is he turning good? | Reputation in the community | ||
| Winston asked Karis to donate his TV for the talent show prize. Karis is not happy! Winston says they need to show solidarity with the community. | |||
| Baraka is going to sing at the talent show. Dodgy and Bill aren’t impressed! | Money-making scheme – buying airtime | ||
| The market women are doing a dance but are squabbling about it. Josiah needs money for a phone call. Mama Mboga is renting out her mobile phone to people in order to make money. | |||
| Hope thanks Karis for his generosity and says he’s really changed. Is she interested in him? | Stealing, crime |
Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Jonathan complains to Snake about Rose throwing him out. They decide to steal Karis’s money during the talent show. | Reputations, lying |
Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Part ii): | Karis is annoyed about Red’s decorations in the bar, but Hope is watching, so he pretends not to mind. PP wants Red to sing but she refuses. | ||
| Time for the talent show. Small Sharon is going to sing but she’s tone deaf. | |||
| Kara's upset she can’t go to the bar – she’s not 18. | Strict parents, the law | Citizenship 1.1 | |
| Snake and Jonathan sneak off. | |||
| Red introduces the acts at the talent show. Dodgy is rapping but the audience aren’t impressed. Cheryl is a good singer. | Having fun and helping the community | Citizenship 2.3 | |
| The market women are wearing traditional dress. | |||
| Josiah asks Karis for money in front of Winston. Hope overhears and is upset. The whole town hears about Karis’s money-lending business. | Consequences of illegal money-lending | Social Justice | |
| Small Sharon is singing to Dr Charles, who’s very embarrassed. When Baraka sings, everybody starts dancing. | |||
| The bar is being robbed! Mama Mpima scares the robber and then Snake catches him. He looks like a hero. The robber is Solaris! He stole from Mama Mboga. | Stealing, justice, misunderstanding | PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.3 | |
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Kara has enjoyed her evening in with Rose. The talent show results are announced. 3rd prize - market women. 2nd prize - Cheryl. 1st prize - Baraka. Red sings again. |
Episode 11: Standing Up
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | George comes to see Matano and wakes him up. His uncles have arrived in Makutano and are trying to steal his land. Matano is outraged and comes to investigate – still wearing his pajamas! | Property laws, family |
Citizenship 1.2 |
| The barbers tell Washington about Hope’s argument with Karis. She’s still refusing to talk to him. Washington says Dodgy’s hair is ‘ungodly’. The Sharons tell the men about George’s uncles and they rush off to help Matano. | Community involvement |
Citizenship 1.2 |
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| It’s Hope’s day off. She’s baking a cake for Diana but Bernadette is criticising her cooking. Hope is going to take Diana on a picnic and doesn’t want Bernadette to come. Bernadette isn’t happy. | Family loyalty vs duty to the community |
Citizenship 1.2 |
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| George’s uncles say the land is rightfully theirs since their brother (George’s father) died. Matano explains he was appointed the children’s legal guardian but the uncles won’t listen. The barbers and Washington turn up and it turns into a fight. | Inheritance laws, wills |
Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Matano calls Hope and asks her to help, but it’s her day off. Bernadette tells her to go and she leaves. Diana is upset. | Mother-daughter relationship | ||
| Celina (George’s sister) is ill. Mama Mboga says it could be malaria but she has been sleeping under a mosquito net. They take her to the health centre before it’s too late. | Malaria, importance of early treatment | ||
| Karis has bought Cheryl flowers but she throws them on the ground and walks off. She hasn’t forgiven him for dumping her yet. | Relationships | ||
| Hope arrives and breaks up the fight. She takes them to the school and promises to listen to everyone’s side of the story. | Fair hearing |
Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Mama Mboga and Margaret arrive at the health centre with Celina. | |||
| Part ii): | Hope explains that the orphans have a protected right of inheritance. Washington and Matano say that the uncles aren’t interested in caring for the children; they just want the land. George is worried about Celina and Hope tells him to go to the health centre. | Inheritance laws, family duties |
Citizenship 1.2 |
| Bernadette has taken Diana and Maspeedy on a picnic in the forest, but they’re sitting on an ants’ nest! | |||
| Dr Charles has given Celina an ACT drug – it’s very effective. Mama Mboga wants the name of the drug but Dr Charles says self-prescription is wrong and that she should come to the clinic whenever she feels unwell. George hasn’t checked the mosquito nets for holes. | Malaria treatment, importance of checking mosquito nets | ||
| Bill and Dodgy are boasting to the Sharons about fighting George’s uncles. Karis wants to borrow Dodgy’s Celine Dion CD to try win Sharon back. | Relationships | ||
| The uncles offer to become the orphans’ guardians but Hope explains that Matano is their legal guardian. The land belongs to the orphans as the next of kin. | Inheritance laws, guardians |
Citizenship 1.2 |
|
| Washington offers to lend Karis money – but with a high interest, to give him a taste of his own medicine! Karis begs Cheryl to take him back. She refuses, but agrees to listen to the CD. | Money-lending, relationships | ||
| Stella is in the marketplace with Kara and George. Mama Mpima arrives and takes her home; she’s not allowed to spend time with boys because she isn’t circumcised. Kara says Mama Mpima is old-fashioned but George accuses her of forgetting their tradition (they’re from the same tribe). They argue and split up. | Female circumcision: tradition |
Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Bernadette and Diana carry on their picnic indoors. Diana likes her mum’s cake! Hope returns home and will spend the evening with her daughter. | Family bonding | ||
| The uncles are taking the orphans for dinner now the argument’s resolved. | |||
| There was a whole in Celina’s mosquito net but Margaret and Matano have bought her a new one. Margaret misses her own children; they don’t live with her anymore. | Importance of checking mosquito nets |
Episode 12: To Be A Woman
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Mama Mpima wants to circumcise Stella tonight. She doesn’t want to go through the pain, but Mama Mpima says she needs to become a woman. | Female circumcision – right to choose |
Citizenship 1.2 |
| Small Sharon refuses to talk to Maspeedy. Big Sharon asks him on a date tonight! She tells him to get a haircut. | Relationships | ||
| Margaret sees Matano having a suspicious conversation on his mobile. She asks him about it but he’s evasive. He says he’s got a meeting with Mabuki but Margaret sees Mabuki in the market. | Suspicion | ||
| Rose tells Red that she and Kara are not getting on. Rose wants to buy her a new dress and Red offers to pick one out. | Adolescence – relationship with parents | ||
| Stella tells Kara she’s worried about her circumcision. Red comes up and they complain about parents. Kara says she misses learning about her culture now that she lives with the Mulanis. Kara mentions circumcision and Red says it’s dangerous and that they should go to the chief. | Female circumcision – reasons and worries | ||
| Maspeedy tells PP about his date with Big Sharon. PP thinks it’s hilarious! Maspeedy asks PP to go to the barber’s with him but PP’s busy. | Relationships and appearance | ||
| Kara is jealous of Stella; she wants to be circumcised. Stella wants to tell the chief but Kara persuades her not to. Stella’s worried that her father will marry her off once she’s circumcised. Kara tells Mama Mpima she wants to be circumcised too and Mama Mpima agrees. She has until 7pm to change her mind. | Female circumcision – cultural heritage | ||
| Maspeedy’s at the barbers. Big Sharon has told everyone about the date! Matano is still talking to someone on his mobile. | |||
| Kara arrives home and Rose shows her the dress. Rose tells Kara she can confide in her. Kara tells her she wants to be circumcised. Rose forbids her and says it’s dangerous. Kara thinks that George split up with her because she wasn’t circumcised. They argue and Rose sends her to her room. | Female circumcision – dangers, peer pressure | ||
| Stella tells Mama Mpima she wants to become a lawyer, but her mother says being a wife is more important. | Women: education vs marriage | ||
| Part ii): | The barbers have dyed Maspeedy’s hair! He’s very nervous. PP explains the dye will take a while to wash out. Maspeedy leaves for the bar. | Fashion and appearance | |
| It’s time for Stella’s circumcision. She tells Mama Mpima she’s not ready but Mama Mpima won’t listen. | Forced circumcision |
PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4 |
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| Big Sharon is waiting for Maspeedy at the bar. He’s late. | Relationships | ||
| Kara sneaks out of the house and bumps into Maspeedy. She asks him to take her to Mama Mpima’s. | |||
| Bill and Dodgy reveal that Big Sharon hates men with dyed hair! | |||
| Kara arrives at Mama Mpima’s but something has gone wrong with the circumcision. They call Dr Charles and Maspeedy takes her to the health centre. | Dangers of circumcision | ||
| Maspeedy arrives at the bar but Big Sharon has already left. The barbers warn him that she’s not happy! | |||
| Stella is stable but Dr Charles says she could have bled to death. He explains that circumcision is illegal for girls under 18. Rose arrives and Kara apologises. | Underage circumcision is illegal |
Citizenship 1.2 |
|
| The next day. Maspeedy runs away from Big Sharon. The Mulanis bring food and drink to the health centre. Mama Mpima has stayed there all night; Stella has been kept in under observation. Dr Charles tells the women Stella is ok, but she’s at risk of infection and complications during childbirth. Rose has spoken to Hope and wants to provide a ‘crossing over’ ceremony for the girls that doesn’t involve cutting. |
Complications of circumcision Womanhood, rites of passage |
PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4 Religious Education 1.2, 1.4 |
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| Mama Mpima apologises to Stella but she doesn’t want to speak to her. She can’t forgive her. | Mother-daughter relationship |
Episode 13: Crossing Over
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Maspeedy and PP are preparing sacks to gather the harvest. Maspeedy’s still scared of Big Sharon. | Harvesting crops |
Geography 1.4 |
| Margaret catches Matano on his mobile again and is getting suspicious. She thinks he’s having an affair but Mama Mboga says he’d never be unfaithful. | Secrets in marriage |
PSHE (wellbeing) 1.4 |
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| Big Sharon is doing yoga! She wants to lose weight for Maspeedy. The girls’ ‘Rite of Passage’ ceremony is tomorrow and the whole town will be there. | Appearance and health |
PSHE (wellbeing) 1.2 |
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| Bill and Dodgy want to rename the barber’s now that Ben is in Jamaica. Dodgy wants to name it after some American rappers but Bill wants to keep it simple. They can’t agree and start arguing. | |||
| Rose is chairing a meeting about the ceremony. Anna says circumcision is a tribute to their ancestors but Margaret says it’s dangerous. Rose says they must move with the times and the alternative ceremony will teach girls about womanhood. | Adolescence: girls becoming women, role of women | ||
| Karis is playing cards with Snake and Jonathan in the bar. Karis is short of money and Hope is keeping a close eye on him so he can’t resume his money-lending business. | Gambling, debt | ||
| Winston explains it’s important to teach the male members of the community about the dangers of female circumcision so the girls aren’t stigmatised. | Female circumcision: awareness |
PSHE ( personal wellbeing) 1.2 |
|
| Snake won the card game. Diana is looking for Hope and Karis offers to take her home. Hope sees them talking and tells Karis to stay away from her family. | Trust and reputations | ||
| Jonathan asks Rose to take him back but she refuses. Bill and Dodgy are still arguing. | Marriage problems |
1.4 |
|
| Margaret is still convinced Matano is having an affair. | Secrecy in relationships |
1.4 |
|
| The ceremony starts before sunrise. The women and girls are singing and dancing. | Tradition and culture |
Religious Education 1.2, 1.4 |
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| Bernadette can’t decide which hat to wear. Diana wants Hope, not Bernadette, to do her hair. Baraka goes to find PP. | Family life | ||
| Maspeedy doesn’t want to go to the ceremony because he’s worried about Big Sharon. | |||
| Baraka is impressed with PP; the harvest will be good this year. He wants to give PP a piece of the land but PP thinks that subdividing the land isn’t very efficient. Baraka agrees to keep the land whole and give PP a share of the yearly profits. | Harvesting, land management |
Geography 1.4 |
|
| Part ii): | The girls are sharing what they have learnt during their ‘Rite of Passage’. They have discussed health, family life, education and women’s rights. Jonathan turns up – he’s drunk and embarrasses Rose in front of the other women. She sends him away. |
Womanhood Alcoholism |
|
| Matano asks Margaret what’s wrong. She’s been avoiding him all week but won’t confront him. | Communication in relationships | ||
| The girls are dressed in traditional cloth and the women are singing and dancing. | Tradition and culture | ||
| Everyone else has prepared food for the ceremony. Bernadette has made trifle – "it’s American". | American culture is fashionable | ||
| Maspeedy spots Big Sharon and hides from her. | |||
| Karis tells Hope he’s closed his money-lending business, He wants to be friends but she walks away. He asks Cheryl to take him back again and this time she agrees. | Relationships, honesty | ||
| Hope makes a speech explaining that the girls have become women without undergoing circumcision. The girls each make a speech. Stella reads a poem about circumcision. | Circumcision and FGM: awareness | ||
| Matano gets a phone call and runs off. Margaret confronts him about his ‘affair’ but it turns out he’s tracked down her children! | Relationships, family | ||
| Kara thanks Rose for taking her in. George apologises to Kara and they make up. | |||
| Bill and Dodgy’s argument turns into a food fight! | |||
| Maspeedy apologises to Big Sharon. | |||
| Jonathan threatens Rose and she agrees to talk to him in private. She says it’s over. | Marriage problems | ||
| Bernadette wants Hope to go on a family holiday but she wants to take Diana to Mombasa. It turns out Hope got pregnant at college, so Bernadette sent her away when Diana was born. Karis is her father! He overhears the conversation. | Family loyalty, teenage pregnancy | ||
| Jonathan and Rose are fighting above the waterfall and Rose falls in... |