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.

Programming Part II: Play Day

The Program
Once a month, Faraja Trust Fund runs a play day at their Home Based Care Center for youth living with HIV. About 50-60 children come for a stigma-free play environment as well as a cooked meal and some supplies to bring home. Older children are also given a chance to discuss HIV and learn about their disease. One goal of the program is to help inform the young adults and to help their confidence. We also took them swimming in a mountain river to give them a chance for a social outing.

My Job
For our time here, October 31st was the only Play Day that would be happening. Since we do not plan the day, our job is basically to act as support for the kids. YCI provides some toys to play with and people to play with the children. We also went to the river (The Rock Garden) with the older children and swam with them for a bit.

Challenges and Successes
By far the biggest challenge is playing with children who, according to my assumptions, have done nothing to deserve living with HIV/AIDS. Even just thinking about children with serious diseases makes me angry and upset so I was a bit worried about my emotions during the day. Most of the time I was able to just absorb myself in the games and to play with the children. When I wasn’t playing, however, I often thought about the challenges facing these children and it made me sad. I’m glad though, that I got a chance to make their lives a little more enjoyable. It’s easier for me to deal with it by thinking that it’s about quality of life, not quantity.

I had also been worried that I might be afraid to play with the children or that a freak accident would end up with me getting infected. I don’t feel happy that I felt that, but I am being honest (maybe something I shouldn’t be doing in a blog). Those worries quickly disappeared when it came time to play though. I took several pictures of the children (though not so many of them swimming since, being poor, many were not wearing more than their birthday suits) playing which are here below.

Pictures: 1) Micah (YCI Country Manager) helping some children skip rope. 2) Me and some children relaxing for a bit. 3) Gasto and Godfrey leading the older children in a team-building activity (I think it was the human knot). 4) Several children colouring and playing on the mat. You can see some of the caregivers in the back. 5) Some children I was throwing a ball with. They really like the camera. 6) Godfrey talking to the older children. 7) Some of the children with the sodas we provided. 8) The pools where some of the children swam and played.