January 2003

This study aims to explore if and how video can be used as a means of conveying information and encouraging debate about HIV/AIDS, sexual health and related issues such as teenage pregnancy and gender questions. It involves observations of attitudes and reactions during video screenings of a few selected video films, as well as focus group and individual interviews with children, teenagers and young adults (10-24 years old) on relational issues, sexual health and information and prevention of HIV.

The author examines the impact of two films distributed by FilmAfrik, and a number of films selected from the project Steps for the Future. Most of the screenings were done in rural to semi-rural settings but a few took place in provincial capitals. One of the films was Cartão Amarelo (Yellow Card), a Zimbabwean box-office hit.

The first aim of the research was to explore and describe the process, work and functioning of the project FilmAfrik, and by doing this to study how edutainment methods in general, and video in particular, can be used to communicate information to youth population about HIV/AIDS. The second aim was to examine to what extent young people are impacted by this type of project (their reactions, their thoughts, and their attitudes).

The study first explores HIV/AIDS and the use of video in general. It then goes on to examine the use of edutainment to convey social messages, and how edutainment video addresses issues. It then focuses on the experience of FilmAfrik in Mozambique, and concludes with reccomendations.

The author found that "the films largely contributed to educate, inform and entertain the audience. They claimed to have enjoyed watching the films for reasons like relaxation and pleasure but also because they liked being informed, learning new things, seeing things from their own culture and seeing reality on film. The audience liked seeing situations and people they could relate to as well as seeing films bringing up subjects they were concerned by."

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