Our HIV ABC
Sekolo’s Our HIV ABC program was grounded in our belief in the sustainability of training teachers in the “combined HIV ABC” of Abstinence, Be faithful and Consistent and Correct Condom use. Our workshops discussed the limitations of the ABC, incorporate additional components on stigma, voluntary counseling, testing and care (VCTC), prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), and how to care for and work with orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). We encouraged all our teachers to get tested and tell their colleagues and students about testing. The initial implementation of Our HIV ABC was completed in August of 2006.
The Our HIV ABC Teacher’s Guide includes definitions of the A, B, and C as well as discussion questions for use in a classroom situation. The guide’s definitions and it’s detailed glossary have been translated into several Namibian languages. All of Sekolo’s educational documents, including translations, are available here.
The Our HIV ABC Teacher’s Guide is meant to used in conjunction with the Our HIV ABC Classroom Video, shown in 4 segments below, courtesy of Acis Productions. The video is entirely youth presented and includes definitions, discussions, and drama’s relating to Abstinence, Being faithful, and Condom use. The final segment of the video is a demonstration of both male and female condoms by learners.
“Our HIV ABC” - 1) HIV Introduction from Acis Productions on Vimeo.
A – Abstinence: The only sure way of preventing HIV transmission through sexual activity. Abstinence only works if it is an informed abstinence. Encouraging delay and minimizing potential exposure are essential in fighting rising HIV rates in young people.
“Our HIV ABC” - 2) Abstinence from Acis Productions on Vimeo.
B – Be Faithful: Fighting HIV from the classroom is about encouraging people to make informed decisions, to keep themselves safe, to use their education in a full adult life. Reducing partner numbers and knowing and trusting your partner is part of the individual’s armory against infection - but B alone is no protection.
“Our HIV ABC” - 3) Be faithful from Acis Productions on Vimeo.
C - Consistent and Correct Condom use: Without correct condom knowledge and when placed in real life situations, young people are at risk from abuse and infection. Condom use reduces the spread of STIs whose presence greatly increases the chance of HIV transmission.
“Our HIV ABC” - 4) use a Condom from Acis Productions on Vimeo.
Teachers practice demonstrating the female condom during a workshop in Oshakati.
Click here to see more workshop photos.
The initial implementation of Our HIV ABC was completed in August of 2006. Our HIV ABC gave immediate and sustainable improvement to Namibia’s HIV prevention effort through:
- 53 teacher-training workshops for HIV / AIDS contact teachers
- 921 teachers trained at 564 secondary schools
- Provision of classroom tools and materials to all secondary schools in Namibia
- Engaging up to 45,000 students (aged 12-19) with HIV prevention information
A workshop participant.
Praise for Our HIV ABC
The response to the Our HIV ABC program was consistently positive. Here are selected comments from participating teachers.
“[The Our HIV ABC video] became my powerful tool as before we start with every lesson or session, the learners demanded for the video to be shown first!” (Khomas Region, Precilina Hoveka)
“I feel much more comfortable to talk about issues like sex and demonstrating condoms to the learners. I also learned that spreading the information of abstinence could be a good solution because a lot of people in our community now abstain.” (Oshana Region, Ashilonga Maria)
“Other teachers used [the materials] as well, in their lessons, especially the Life Science teachers and the Life Skills teachers.” (Oshikoto Region, Ndinelago Ngulu)
Ms. Robinson leading discussion during a workshop.
“We also showed the video to the teachers at school.” (Oshikoto Region, Mr. Petrus Asser)
“I gained knowledge about how AIDS is spread and the prevention measures to be taken. I have learned how to teach learners in a conducive atmosphere to HIV and AIDS.” (Omusati Region, Sikwanga Humphrey)
“I really gained most useful knowledge like how to demonstrate use of a female condom correctly, how to lead ‘be faithful’ discussions, and also many games during the workshop.” (Oshana Region, Aili Amadhila)
The Deputy Minister of Education in Namibia wrote at the conclusion of Our HIV ABC to thank Sekolo Projects for its work in HIV prevention. She commended Sekolo Projects’ collaboration with the Ministry of Education and encouraged Sekolo to continue providing effective and relevant programming.
An Our HIV ABC workshop in Ongwediva.