Programming Part V: HIV/AIDS Outreach

The Program

With a local drama group, YCI puts on three different types of outreach programs to educate about HIV/AIDS. The three types of events are: Rural Presentations (within an hour and a half drive from Morogoro), Secondary School Presentations, and Talent Shows (usually around Morogoro). At these presentations the drama group along with YCI presents a lot of information, entertains the crowd (with lots of interaction) and often demonstrates how to put on a condom (if the community or school allows it, and obviously with a banana).

My Job

Since most of the presentations are in Swahili, my involvement has been minimal. Our biggest task is to do pre and post surveys to compare the knowledge of the audience before and after the presentation. We also help out in various ways during the presentations including: being in the skits, holding signs, speaking about HIV/AIDS in Canada (with a translator) and generally offering up advice when necessary. Another important job we did was to do the condom demonstrations. We also attend a drama club practice once a week to liase with them and to practice any skits we might be doing that week.

Challenges and Successes

Generally, this program is the one that reaches the most people, so it is pretty successful right there. We have, however, had many challenges with this program. At various times we have had problems with: getting a power generator, a truck driver backing out at the last minute, the DJ being late, the music not working, schools switching the date on us at the last minute and just general confusion.

That being said, at the end of the day during each of the presentations we did, everyone was happy and all the information we wanted to deliver was delivered. Despite the problems we were successful and made things work the best way we could. The YCI staff are very experienced here and would not take no for an answer (with all of the above problems). Also, on almost every question we asked during the presentations we saw an increase in correct responses from the pre test to the post test. There were still some questions that the audiences had trouble with, though a lot of that might have had to do with shyness or feeling uncomfortable with speaking about these things.

All in all, though it was frustrating at times, these were very good programs which are attempting to help educate over a thousand people a month about HIV/AIDS.

Pictures: 1) The drama group getting ready for one of their skits at the first rural outreach in Kiloka. 2) Some girls dancing at the first talent show in Mazimbu. 3) Nicole performing with the drama group in Mazimbu. 4) Godfrey and Makho playing a game with students at the first secondary school presentation at Mgulasi School. 5) A female student rapping at the second secondary school presentation at Nanenane School. 6) The crowds at our second rural outreach in Dumila. 7) Someone performing a comedy routine in Dumila. 8) Some of the drama group members singing at our second talent show in Mafisa.