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Wan Lobi Tori: Lesley and Anne (A Love Story)

Country

Suriname

Programme Summary

Wan Lobi Tori is a film that tells of a love story between two youths from very different social backgrounds, who are confronted by an HIV-positive diagnosis. Using edutainment, the film aims to raise awareness and increase discussion around HIV/AIDS and stigma.

Communication Strategies

Wan Lobi Tori was produced by Stichting Projekta for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The film served as a pilot to research the possibilities of using locally produced edutainment films in the fight against HIV in Suriname, and possibly the wider Caribbean. By including Guyana as part of the broadcast strategy, the producers sought to explore whether this kind of edutainment film can cross borders and serve as an information tool for the wider Caribbean.

The 40-minute film uses the strategy of edutainment, showing how a young couple deal with the disapproval of their respective families over their relationship, an HIV positive diagnosis and how a family’s love and understanding can help a person live positively with HIV. Written and directed by Sharda Ganga, the movie is a result of an edutainment training exercise, partially assisted by the South African non-governmental organisation (NGO) Soul City. It concentrates on messages about stigma and discrimination, the spread of HIV, and the fact that young people can help.

According to the final report, the edutainment strategy was very well received. Said one young viewer, "we are used to being very bored by films that are supposedly good for you. This film made clear that messages do not have to get in the way of a great story.” Many audience members expressed that they felt that high-quality edutainment films were possibly the best medium for extending the messages needed for HIV awareness, and that the use should extend to regular series on other life skills as well.

The film was launched on December 1 2004 for World AIDS Day and was broadcast on television stations in Suriname and Guyana. Before the airing on television stations, special viewings were organised for the press and other stakeholders, such as NGOs. In Guyana, Projekta partnered with the Guyanese NGO A.I.D.S. (Artists in Direct Support), which is involved in peer education activities throughout the country, for scheduling the events in Guyana, organising the viewings and broadcast, and handling the publicity for the film.

According to the final report, actors from the film, all students, have since had opportunities to speak and lead discussions amongst their peers.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS

Key Points

According to the final report, viewers have stated that the storyline was one that they could identify with, and the discussions on various issues from sexuality to class differences showed the possibilities of the movie as an educational tool. "It seems there is a great need for appropriate and well-made edutainment materials in our societies, and an added value of the film was the fact that both the Surinamese and the Guyanese audiences started to realise their commonalities when addressing socio-economic and cultural issues."

The final report also proposes possible follow-up activities: broader exposure of the film throughout the Caribbean; making the film available to classrooms and NGOs that wish to use the film for educational purposes; adding a short lesson brief or a teaching kit for use in classrooms and community discussions; and work on follow up series for the Caribbean.

As of February 2007, the film has been broadcast in several other Caribbean countries, was and is still used in outreach programmes of various Caribbean NGOs, and Washington DC, United States-based youth groups. Viewings have been organised by international organisations such as the World Bank on World AIDS Day 2005 and 2006, and it has gone on to win two Caribbean Media Awards.

Partners

Stichting Projekta, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with financial assistance from PAHO, the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

Contact

Stichting Projekta

Wim van Aalststraat 15
P.O. Box 1013

Paramaribo
Suriname
Tel: 597 439925
Fax: 597 439924

Source

Youth HIV Action, No. 9, January 2005 [PDF] and Wan Lobi Tori report 2005 [PDF]; and email from Sharda Ganga to The Communication Initiative on April 5 2006 and February 27 2007.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site February 04 2006
Last Updated March 24 2009



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