"What are you doing for the children of Africa?" is a question often asked of TWR missionaries. With the majority of Africa's population below the age of 25,Trans World Radio-Africa is taking the continent's children by storm through a kids' drama programme called Witness at the Water.

It is a known fact that more than 80% of the world's population who commit to Christ do so under the age of 18, and we believe God has led us to reach the young people of Africa with the Gospel, assisting them to live their lives for Jesus. Witness at the Water deals with issues children in Africa face daily while growing up in a world characterised by poverty, HIV/AIDS, abuse and a lack of essential basics that first world Christians take for granted.

With a concept and the desire of one man, Rev. Horst Marquart, Trans World Radio-Africa set out to research and develop a programme that would appeal to the needs of specific target audiences in the continent - children between the ages of 7 and 12 years old living in various parts of Africa. Many of these children live in the slums of the city, while some live in rural areas. Some are not living with their parents due to losing them to HIV/AIDS, poverty,or family strife etc. The project has three primary objectives:

• To take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to children
• To allow the children to understand that Jesus is their friend
• To help children live their lives for Jesus within the context of their daily lives

Under the leadership of Laurie Vogt, Project Samuel (the umbrella name given to children's programme production by TWR-Africa) has become a reality. Working closely with partners* who share the urgency of children's programmes in Africa, Laurie and his team quickly set about an intensive research campaign to assess the nature of the needs of children of different cultures falling within this age group. The intention was to produce a series of programmes that would answer their questions thereby shaping their thinking and their lives.

Someone once said, "Sow a thought, reap a deed. Sow a deed, reap an action, sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny." Through Project Samuel, Trans World Radio, working together with partners involved in children's ministry in Africa, is bringing the the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these children in an unprecedented way, which allows the Holy Spirit opportunity to transform young minds for Jesus Christ. Many of these young people will grow up to be the next generation's leaders and influence the very fabric of the societies in which they live.

Witness at the Water follows the lives of four children: Lindiwe, Themba, Sipho and Thandi, for a period of one year. They meet Gogo (the wise grandmother who is a Christian) somewhere around the village of Cheti-Cheti on the banks of the Impilo River where crocodiles and hippos roam free. They are typical African children who have heard many myths and legends. Once a week they come and relay to her situations they're facing in their lives at the moment. Gogo, as the facilitator, relates the Bible to them, speaking into the situation with practical advice straight from the Word of God. The entire concept of Witness at the Water revolves around Jesus as the Living Water and all who are thirsty will come and drink. The children are presented with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and discipled in biblical truths through exciting stories with dramatic sound effects to make it captivating.

A pilot programme has been produced and 52 script outlines of Witness at the Water have been written in the English language. These scripts provide the basis for translation and adaptation into Swahili for East Africa (including Kenya and Tanzania), Chichewa for Malawi, Portuguese for Angola and Mozambique, Shona for Zimbabwe, siSwati for Swaziland and Zulu for South Africa.

Witness at the Water is unique in that it has never been done before in Africa. It has opened an entirely new genre of Christian radio in Africa. With this in mind a special process has been developed and will be followed in the production, equipping people and developing skills that will enable them to develop further dramatic works in the future.

TWR began broadcasting these programmes in July 2003. Production continues as new languages are added. Please pray for Laurie and his team as they develop this project.

And listener's are responding to the programme. While most children living in the areas of broadcast do not have the means to write to Trans World Radio, several have:

"Firstly I would like to greet you in Jesus’ name. God is keeping me well. I have written this letter to tell you that I like this programme. I really felt bad when I could not hear the programme. You see it teaches me how to stay well with friends, respecting parents but also fearing God. That is why I really want to follow all the episodes closely. Please carry on with the programme. I really like it. Lastly, greet the agogo and the grandchildren in the play. I am your fellow kid."

"I am 17 years old. I want to tell you my views on the programme Madzi A Moyo I enjoy the programme Madzi A Moyo a lot. It helps me to elevate my spiritual life. Not only does it encourage me to be confident and be determined in Jesus but also helps me to trust in him. Furthermore, it teaches me to help others so that they may know Jesus Christ. Thank you for listening to my views. God bless you."

"I would like to let you know that I am a regular listener of Trans World Radio and I like listening to Madzi a Moyo. I am a girl aged 20 but this programme revives my spiritual life. In addition to that, I am a born again Christian but I would like people like you to help me grow in my spiritual life, one other thing; I would like to have a bible of my own. Please help."

* Partners are Scripture Union, the South African National Sunday School Association (SANSSA) , Petrua College, the Baptist Youth of Southern Africa (BYSA) and various script writing groups.