Adolescent Govt School Children Training Programme on reducing stigma and discrimination against families affected by HIV and AIDS



HIV and AIDS has crossed two decades since its first existence in India. Among people living with HIV, young people account the most affected. The impact of HIV has resulted in stigma around the infection, thus affecting people who live with HIV not sparing even the children living with HIV. The stigma of the infection has even restricted many from accessing the right information and has contributed in the increase of HIV infection among young people. In this context, Buds of Christ with support from the District Education Department of Namakkal district organised HIV and AIDS awareness sessions in schools with a focus in reducing stigma and discrimination.

The program was organised in 4 Govt higher secondary schools reaching to over 1500 adolescent girls and boys in Tiruchengode Taluk. The training programme content included assessment of student’s knowledge on HIV and AIDS through quiz completion. This further facilitated interest among the students to raise questions around the topic. Brief discussions around transmission routes, testing procedures, care of people living with HIV were shared.

A movie “emanthitingala“ was screened, that shares the message on how ignorance on knowledge of HIV affects children studying in schools and also extends to inform the audience on how HIV transmits and how it does not and the care we can provide people living with HIV. Following that few minutes were given to students to raise questions around HIV and AIDS through the question box technique.
From the questions mobilised, we found that; 
  • There was an understanding among many that HIV can be diagnosed by external symptoms and only very few percentage had information that blood test was the only diagnosis for HIV.
  • Some of the children had information about treatment for HIV, but questions around sexuality and HIV were raised both in boys and girls school.

There were few questions that revealed the vulnerability found among young people.
  • Can we marry an HIV positive person?
  • Having sexual intercourse with a widow - is it a risk?

Though the training session resulted in a positive response, the need to build in life skills among young people to effectively cope with the vulnerabilities of HIV and AIDS was found as essential. In almost all the schools covered, the headmasters showed great interest in organising such events in helping the young children learn and protect themselves.

Popular posts from this blog

Confidence Building Camp for Orphan Adolescents

Image
What is Buds N Colors Camp? Buds N Colors camp is for adolescent children orphaned and affected by HIV and AIDS in the HIV high prevalent Namakkal district in Tamilnadu. The aim of this camp is to share love, build hope and strengthen faith to live life with dignity and courage. Why this camp? Adolescents living with HIV find it hard to set higher goals due to the fear that dominates their emotions. HIV has affected their self –image causing a severe low self esteem. Our experiences from the previous camp have shown, given a space for the adolescents, they emerge as leaders of hope and change for others like them. Who are the participants at Buds N Colors Camp? This camp is exclusively for adolescent children who have lost one or both parents to HIV and AIDS in the age group of 12 to 18 years. Around 40 adolescent children will participate in this camp What is the uniqueness of the camp? This camp provides opportunity for creating peer buddies among
Read more

Nothing is impossible for those that BELIEVE – Bharathi has scored 408 in 10th public exams amidst difficult circumstances

Image
It is another joyous moment to share that our children have excelled in their 10 th public exams and going beyond the limitations and challenges once again. The experiences of these children, especially widow headed households face the pressures of early marriages; or stopping education and sent for work to support the family income. In addition if they are the most backward caste in the community, they are often discriminated by other members in the community. Bharathi has put her dream path, possible challenges and how she would overcome them  Bharathi is from the most backward community and living with her widowed mother. She has one elder sister who eloped and got married to a boy from the neighbouring village. Bearing the stigma of run-away sister, widowed mother’s daughter and the caste discrimination, along with severe power cuts that lasted up to 12 hours in a day, Bharathi as young as 14 years took these obstacles as milestones to prove her capacity and bring a grea
Read more

Educating Children Enabling Independence

Image
“Education is for improving the lives of other and for leaving our community and world better than we found it.” Buds of Christ organised Education support program for boys and girls on 7 October 2021. 16 children from class 9 th to 12 th participated and received school bags and notebooks.   The event started with a moral story on Being Focussed on the Vision for life shared by Mr. Jeyapaul Director of Buds of Christ. Following that Communication skill was taught to children as part of Life Skills Education.   The reason for Buds of Christ to enhance the skills of children on Life skills goes with the quote that “Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It’s about widening our knowledge and absorbing the truth about life".   This was followed by life experience sharing by the Program Chief Guest Ms. Kaleeswari, Commercial Assistant from TamilNadu Electricity Board.   She shared her life history and motivated the children to be eager for studies. She also
Read more