DISQUS

Wow, I was just thinking about the whole HIV/AIDS awareness work carried out in Africa today, and the speculation which surrounds it! I for one, having being involved in a similar project in Zambia, was concerned with how activities like games, drama and sport could affect such a huge issue, but infact I did learn to take a new outlook on it. I dont think such work can affect prevention of the virus on the whole in relation to safe sex, abstinence etc, but I believe work can aid aspects which surround the disease.

For example, discussing myths about HIV such as being able to contract it through holding hands or sharing cups were easily dispelled through simple chats and games. The stigma attatched to the virus was also huge and had a big impact on communities, so again, exploring such issues in an open environment allowed us to explore these issues where drama methods were particularly successful, looking at empathy and supporting techniques. Like any important issue, it's always a good start to be able to talk about it openly. It's almost similar to the sex education movement which is taking place here in the UK. What I did recognise is that it was very normal to discuss sex with young children in Zambia in a completely different way to the way sex is discussed in the UK, obviously due to the focus on HIV prevention. It wasn't seen as a taboo, a secret, a sin; more a case of life or death- if people will do it anyway, they need to do it safely, a conflicting argument I hear so often which suggests sex education at a young age will promote underage sex.

So.....I do genuinely believe that if the delivery of HIV/AIDS work can only have a positive impact if any at all. It's good to see Kondwani using more modern approaches too which I also witnessed in schools out there, something that the children seemed to embrace where the issue was explored in a very positive, open atmosphere, i think work of this nature seems to promote this attitude.

I would genuinely like to explore and gain more experience in this area as i do feel there is something positive which could be developed (not just wanky drama stuff!), so it's great to see Kondwani making a start and it will definitely be interesting to hear the feedback!

The black only groups and female only groups reminds me of something we used to learn in PE- they call it positive discrimination! However, like you said, this aviods integration and still keeps the groups seperate without any move or improvement towards maybe the reason why they're seperate in the first place!?

This also reminds me of political correctness. The more you try be "politically correct", the more your making it an issue. Now this isn't all true but from studying it at school some of the words are becoming ridiculous and the change in these words automatically makes you think negativley!

They're all discussing the new "participation slinky", reflecting the journey young people can go through, whereby you can only have the ups with the downs, can become very tangled along the way but overall is the spiral to success! Rosie seems to have broken hers, Hugh will follow if he carries on and Abi seems to have misheard what tim was referring to!

It's weird you have wrote this, because I saw something very similar and upsetting yesterday on the bus!

My bus drives through a red district, very close to the town centre where many prostitutes are seen throughout the day. What must people be going through to have to resort to that?! I think some statements like you mentioned come because people are ignorrant and cant relate in the slightest to how these people are suffereing. Obviously this is a terrible thing for people to be going through, but there are many more shocking circumstances around the world, most effecting to me would be children.

Fortunatley, in our country there are shelters, help and advice out there, maybe not suited to everyone but it's comforting to know that there are people that want to help. Something that shocked me whilst in Malawi is that these services are not provided, and if so are very rare and struggle to provide what is needed, particularly as the demand is higher. Countries like this dont have free health care services, some police may be corrupt in comparison to the UK where people are constantly slating the services that we take for granted, where we should really appreciate them in contrast to what others don't have.

If you were to ask that man how you could help him, what do you think he would ask of you? I much prefer giving a meal to someone like this, rather than money, but that is not going to help in the long run, what could the general public provide on a one off which is going to beneficial to these people in need? I think without setting up some sort of project/ refuge, it may be impossible to help on the long term, but a kind gesture or even just advice may help these people or change thier thoughts/attitudes towards thier life. How would you go about encouraging people to give some time to people in poor circumstances?

It was something to look foorward to, even though it was slightly adapted, maybe with the odd slug in it?!?!

Helen!! You make me sound so evil! You forgot to mention the hoody I gave you, the offer of sharing the sleeping abg or even spooning!! The roll mat comment followed! tut