Behavioural change and HIV/AIDS awareness is an MPT funded project being implemented by Save the Children in the towns of Gabela and Cada in Angola in conjunction with the Ministries of Health and Education. It is aimed at improving the sexual behaviour of children and young people aged 11 to 18 and reducing HIV/AIDS transmission and the stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS. Through innovative activities they are developing the children’s skills at sharing and disseminating this information with their friends and peers both inside and outside school, their parents and the wider community.
In their interim report covering the first six months they have so far reached 2,630 children in five schools and trained 60 students as peer educators. The sessions focused on teaching people how to reduce the risk of infection, including avoidance of risky behaviour, contraception and abstinence when contraception use is not an option. They have conducted awareness-raising talks about reducing stigma and non discrimination of children with HIV/AIDS and reached a further 935 students and 15 teachers and taught children how to share this information with their friends and peers both inside and outside school.
However there is still a negative response to condom use from the church community who feel fidelity and abstinence are the only acceptable methods of HIV/AIDS prevention and that promoting condom use will promote promiscuity.
Over the rest of 2010 they have plans to build up the capacity of two youth clubs and to reactivate a further seven drumming home the message of prevention, transmission and the treatment of HIV and AIDS. They will teach a further 45 peer educators, train a further 70 school teachers and 15 church leaders during a three day training session on HIV/AIDS prevention and on challenging stigma and discrimination. They aim to launch a cinema club in parks close to the schools and produce and distribute awareness raising materials.
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here to see photos of the awareness raising sessions.