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Cuido Mi Vida, Cuido Tu Vida [I Care for my Life, I Care for your Life]

Country

Dominican Republic

Programme Summary

"Cuido Mi Vida, Cuido Tu Vida" is a 10-month HIV and AIDS peer education project of Alianza Solidaria Para La Lucha Contra El VIH/SIDA (ASOLSIDA) and La Red Jóvenes Por Siempre (JPS) located in the Dominican Republic. Sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this youth theatrical project is developing a presentation about risks of contracting HIV, infection prevention, sexual responsibility, and vulnerability. The performance- and discussion-based communication project is focused on an audience of approximately 1,500 young people 13 - 24 years old at various public schools in 10 different neighbourhoods in the capital city, Santo Domingo. ASOLSIDA is a community -based organisation of persons affected and infected by HIV and AIDS with the mission of forming leadership based upon equality, justice, and solidarity. JPS is a network of youth that designs projects and programmes that are youth-directed on themes related to HIV and AIDS. It is through JPS that ASOISIDA approaches working with the youth population on HIV prevention and issues of stigma related to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA).

Communication Strategies

The JPS youth network uses theatre - collectively written socio drama, monologue, and individually written pieces - as a means of communication to increase knowledge and awareness of HIV, methods of prevention, and behaviours involved in sexual responsibility. The network does capacity and leadership building with youth on the themes of HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and public health delivery to enable them to present information to peers in an informative, entertaining, and effective manner. The intention is for JPS members to serve as examples of good health through positive engagement, achievement, perseverance, and leadership.

Their performances are written and developed as a collective, then presented to their schools and communities. At the end of each presentation, there is a theatre forum in which the public interacts with the peer educators to increase clarity and emphasise the themes presented. They aim to construct a space for open conversation on issues of sexuality and drug use that they claim is unavailable elsewhere in their schools and communities.

Capacity building of youth leaders through the collective creation of the work of theatre is directed toward group sustainability. The project aims to develop youth writing, leadership, and presentation skills and artistic talents in delivering health communication information through theatre performance.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Youth, Reproductive Health.

Key Points

Due to early sexual début, vulnerability of young people to HIV infection, and stigma surrounding it, there is rarely timely and sufficient information available from parents and teachers, according to JPS group leaders. One of the objectives of the group is to encourage open discussion of sexual health and infection prevention, in which participants can speak freely regardless of sexual preference or religious beliefs. Other objectives include: strengthening youth knowledge of their rights to information on forms of transmission; clarifying and identifying myths and false information; and using testimonials to reduce stigma and discrimination against PLWHA. They intend to involve people living with HIV and AIDS in their campaign delivery and aim to capture the attention of adults in positions of authority so that action will be taken within the general population on the issue of stigma and respect for the rights of PLWHA.

Partners

Alianza Solidaria Para La Lucha Contra El VIH/SIDA (ASOLSIDA), La Red Jóvenes Por Siempre (JPS), Fundación Cultural Cayenas. Funding: UNESCO

Contact

Khalissa Ikhlef
Youth Visioning for Island Living (YV)

Small Islands and Indigenous Knowledge Section SC/PSD/SII
Division of Science Policy and Sustainable Development
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
1 rue Miollis

Paris
75732 Cedex 15
France
Tel: +33 1 45 68 40 27
Fax: +33 1 45 68 58 08

Source

Email from Khalissa Ikhlef to The Communication Initiative on September 16 2009.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site September 22 2009
Last Updated September 22 2009



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