Temwa - Sustainable Community Development, Malawi

Thursday, 19 August 2010 13:33

This exciting new project to tackle the spread of HIV & AIDS is now fully underway. By setting up AIDS Action Clubs in primary and secondary schools, we hope to allow children to take centre stage in the fight against HIV & AIDS by empowering them to take charge of their sexual and reproductive health and equipping them with the requisite knowledge, attitudes and practices which will see them protected and leading safer lives.

Each school will organise students into a voluntary AIDS Action Club that will undertake several activities to help fight HIV & AIDS. The original proposal's objective was to get 30 clubs up and running, unfortunately the project has had to be downsized due to funding, so the main objective is now to get 14 clubs up and running.

To date, Junior Jumbo, Temwa's Senior Assistant Project Manager has completed the initial training for four primary school and two secondary school clubs. This training included how to set up and lead the AAC groups, HIV & AIDS education and club activity work plans. Groups now have the knowledge and skills and are expected to pass on HIV & AIDS information to their peers and communities by organizing activities, both in their schools and further afield. These activities will include singing recitals, drama performances and games.

The remaining eight schools are due to receive their training over the coming weeks and then supervision of all the clubs will commence so that their performance can be monitored. Once all the clubs have found their feet there will be a series of exchanges organized so that each club can share their experiences and ideas. These are intended to boost morale and motivate the members to continue with their activities.

AAC-3 Approaching Kondowe village by boat to deliver the training session