|
Make a donation to LIFESIGNS
PROJECT BRIEF
LIFESIGNS is a project aimed at increasing AIDS prevention by training rural youth to become peer educators via creative activities.
Ethiopia is listed as one of the top 5 nations to be in an
emergency state due to the AIDS pandemic at the ratio of infection
to be 1 out of 10 civilians with the highest risk group being
females between the ages of 15-25. In the past 4 years, HIV
infection increased 30% during the war with Eritrea. Rural
regions with high infection rates of AIDS/HIV, low school
attendance, high illiteracy and conservative views on sexuality
necessitate a program which will educate community members
on a consistent bases. Public art is an effective way to distribute
information with an emphasis on the long-term. These areas
need a model program which educate innocent and healthy children
to become peer leaders and disseminate information on AIDs
prevention.
Our project, LIFESIGNS is a replicable program which trains
youth groups to become AIDS peer educators through the creative
arts. Peer leadership and public art is an effective way to
distribute information and educate with an emphasis on the
long-term. The LIFESIGNS project focuses on youth at risk
who lack the educational resources to change behavior to prevent
HIV infection. These children live under hardship where books
and audiovisuals are absent in the schools. LIFESIGNS introduces
creative learning techniques to train youth groups.
- Changing behavior
through public communication, including peer education and
community art murals
- Emphasize communities
that are most vulnerable (rural, youth and adults)
- Increase behavioral
change towards HIV/AIDS in populations at risk by advocating
communication between sexual partners, regular testing,
increased use of condoms, etc.
- Reduce the annual
toll of new infections by enabling individuals to protect
themselves and others by teaching individuals to use condoms
habitually.
TARGET GROUP
The program focuses on communities in the Northern rural regions
which has reported high infection rates due to recent war.
These communities suffer from a high illiteracy rate, inadequate
health care, frequent drought, poor transport, displacement,
and lack of educational tools. The target gruop are children
at risk; rural teens from the age of 13-16. The project will
reach other rural regions of high priority, funding permitted.
AIDS/HIV IN ETHIOPIA
The distribution of HIV/AIDS in African countries below the
Sahara including Ethiopia has assumed sinister proportions.
Infection rates in East Africa, once the highest on the continent,
hover above those in the West of the continent. The prevalence
rate among adults in Ethiopia and Kenya has reached double-digit
figures and continues to rise. 10.6 % of the adult population
(15-49) in Ethiopia are living with HIV/AIDS in a 2001 UNAIDS
report.
Studies focusing on 15-19 years olds, have found that teenagers
with more education are now far more likely to use condoms
than their peers with lower education. They are also less
likely, particularly in countries with severe epidemics, to
engage in casual sex.Studies show that the growing population
for AIDS is females between the ages of 15-25. Many of these
young women live in rural regions which receive little education
on AIDS/HIV or STDs.
As of 1999, there was an estimate of 400,000 people who have
died of AIDS. It is predicted that if the rapid spread of
the virus continues, by 2002 four million Ethiopians will
carry the HIV virus.
References:
'Not enough condoms are supplied to African men' BMJ, Vol.323,
21 July 2001
UNAIDS Report, AIDS Epidemic Update, December 2001
UNAIDS: AIDS epidemic update: December, 2000
UNAIDS: Report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, June 2000
UNAIDS Fact Sheet: AIDS in Africa, Johannesburg, 30th November
1998
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
A group of 6-8 teens are selected by recommendation of
a local educational director to become peer leaders. The youth
group forms an anti-AIDS club with regular meetings for the
duration of a one month period. During this training period
the youth groups are instructed on HIV preventative methods.
LIFESIGNS' counselors educate the peers on safe sex practice,
labels, social stigmas, sexual anatomy, building communication
skills between partners and invalidating myths and superstitions
regarding HIV. If available, a local health clinic physician
and educational director will be present to contribute to
the talks. These youth will deliver public messages to youth
assemblies on HIV prevention. The youth are coached to be
peer leaders to replicate the program once the LIFESIGNS counselors
complete their instruction.
In conjunction with the learning sessions the youth will create
a public mural on AIDS awareness. These murals act as daily
public reminders to prevent the HIV virus. The murals are
installed in public places where youth and locals congregate
(i.e. market areas, piazzas, near highschools) These murals
act as dailly reminders for community members to advocate
safe and responsible behavior to prevent HIV infection.
Documentation of the project will be implemented, funding
permitted. The proposed documentation would be in the form
of videography,audio and digital stills. The video will promote
international AIDS prevention with youth groups engaging in
public activities to teach AIDS awareness. Both audio and
visuals will be archived for a future web site and documentary
educational tool, funding permitted.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Phase I June 1, 2002- August 30, 2003
Peer Group training and mural development
June 1 -June 30th 2002: Coordinate with local officials permits,
introduction of project, designate location sites
July 1-July 30th 2002: Organize peer group with education
director, train youth on HIV prevention, develop public mural
and introduce creative learning activities (role playing,
theatre, music) Organize student assemblies for peer leader
public messages on HIV prevention. Ceremony celebration for
mural completion and peer leader certification.
Aug. 1, 2002-Aug 30th, 2003: Replicate program in other neighboring
villages
Phase II September 1, 2003- December 30, 2003
Develop video document from previous footage of project implementation.
Edit video and distribute to related interest groups for screening.
(funding permitted)
PROJECT ASSESSMENT
The project will be assessed throughout the implementation
using questionnaires. These questionnares will be distributed
to 100 community adult members and 100 teens. These questionnaires
will address issues of effectiveness of the program, impact
on behavior, and suggestions and reactions to the project.
A one month report to be completed by the project counselor
will be delivered to the sponsor organization at the end of
each training session. This report will include a description
of the town, town statistics regarding infection in the area,
and reception of the program by community members.
For a budget description, contact
LIFESIGNS
|
