ESSAY SUBMITTED BY BEN KATAMILA, FOR THE SYMPOSIUM ON PREVENTING AND COPING WITH HIV/AIDS IN POST CONFLICT SOCIETIES: GENDER BASED LESSONS FROM SUB SAHARAN AFRICA

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

This initiative started as a result of a workshop that was held, with funding from the National Youth Council (NYC). The aim was to equip young people with the basic facts on HIV/AIDS. It was held in September 1999.
 
As part of the action plan it was resolved that a committee be established that would look at strategies that are to be used to get the message across to other youth that are also at risk of HIV infection from especially soldiers in the area.
 
There are two military camps in Okahandja; one is inside and the other outside. This initiative runs parallel to the HIV/AIDS programme of the Ministry of Defense. As the youth have no real initiative that educates them it was felt to start this. Youth vulnerability it is aimed is to be lessened.
 
PROJECT SETTING

The initiative is targeting the youth of Okahandja and surrounding areas. As they are the ones that interact with the soldiers, it has become apparent to start this initiative. Both in and out of school youth are targeted.

FUNDING

Since none of the committee members have any worthwhile knowledge of handling funds it has been decided to only request funds as per initiative. That means that funds are sought as the need arises thus ensuring that a report is submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place. So far only the NYC and the Ministry of Defense as well as health have sponsored the activities.

GOALS AND STRATEGIES

The initiative would strive to:
 *       Ensure condom availability at places often frequented by soldiers and the community at large such as shebeens, bars, hotels, etc.
 *       Hold a series of workshops on basic facts on HIV/AIDS targeting both in and out of school youth. 
*       The training of selected people to become Trainers of trainers (TOT's). The components of this training would be Home based Care and Counseling. One person from the Health Ministry has so far been train as a TOT, with funding from our own pockets.
 *       Holding of regular meetings aimed at addressing different issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS, so as to remove the stigma attached to the epidemic.
 *       School visits tackling different issues on HIV/AIDS, the male and female condom is also introduced and demonstrated. So far seven schools have each received two visits by the volunteers. Primarily questions that the learners might have are answered thus enabling them to better understand HIV/AIDS.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Workshops are held aimed at informing and educating the youth about HIV/AIDS. Public meetings that are aimed at the general public are also on the cards. As stated school visits are also done and to date seven schools had two visits each.
 
During one of these workshops a need was identified to make a role play that forms part of the workshops to be made into a film that would be shown in and around Okahandja. Initially the play would only be done in halls at schools and workplaces with a view to actually record it on videotape for showing elsewhere. The play depicts different issues that are faced in real life and possible solutions. As a group of out of school youth has already attended a theatre workshop it was decided that they form the acting group. The rehearsals will start from 25 March for at least two weeks. A trainer from the NYC will assist the youth in their rehearsals as they have agreed to fund the programme.

GENDER IMPLICATIONS
 
Both sexes are participating in the exercise.  The whole concept of the female condom is new in Namibia and therefore a lot is being learned in this initiative. Both sexes are asked to talk about their experiences with the condom.
 
EXPECTED AND UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES
 
*       As stated there are different strategies that are embarked upon. At the end of this initiative there should been at least hundred and fifty people that have attended these workshops.
*       At least six meetings would have been held with the general public.
*       At the end of two years at least thirty visits to schools would have been made. Destigmatization of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is the main aim of these visits, coupled with enabling in school youth to face HIV/AIDS and its ramifications.
 
IMPACT OF THE PROJECT
 
An evaluation of the initiative is to be done early next year. The proposed format is follows:
 *       The issuing of questionnaires that is to be filed in by those targeted.
 *       One on one street interviews.
*       Another method would be telephonic interviews.
 
OBSTACLES

*       The local schools initially did not approve of us giving condoms to the learners. It took a lot of persuasion to be allowed to give condoms in the schools.
*       To make HIV/AIDS an extra curricula issue is really difficult, as it seems to always fail to convince teenagers to be at the AIDS club meeting than at the soccer game.
*       Condom availability is a constant problem, as the Ministry of health did not always have condoms to give to the volunteers. As that was a communication problem a meeting was held with senior management and that issue has been laid to rest.
*       Girls are not always willing to participate in HIV/AIDS activities, as they are pre occupied with other "more important things".
 
FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS
 
*       The commitment of the youth involved in the initiative.
*       The small monetary rewards that they receive for their efforts also make it easy for the youth to continue with the initiative.
*       The commitment by the people involved to cooperate on almost al issues is a major factor in the success of the initiative.

PEACE BUILDING EFFORTS

At present there is no war going on, in the area that we work. The soldiers themselves are militarily inactive. They only leave to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for nine months before retuning to Okahandja. Whilst the programme is continuing there would be key personnel within the army that would leave the country for periods ranging from nine months to shorter ones. This would lead to a problem, as they are sometimes the liaison people when we have activities together.

LESSONS LEARNED
 
*       The inclusion monetary incentives are a determining factor for out of school youth that are also unemployed. They claim that they can be involved in other that can be even more rewarding.
*       A committee comprising of different stakeholders and coordinated by the Health Ministry, as they have the infrastructure to arrange many things can do wonders for initiatives like this.
*       Training of Defense Ministry personnel is important as that can ensure that we  have an army that is aware of the dangers posed by HIV/AIDS.
*       To poor people abstinence or faithfulness is insignificant, as they would opt to have sex in exchange for money. Availability of condoms to them is not a determining factor but they are going to use condoms if available.
*       Peer education programmes can go a long way in enabling young people to realize the dangers posed by HIV/AIDS. People that share the same background learn from each other easily.
*       Although many people have so far been reached through workshops on HIV/AIDS it is takes a long time for people to change their behaviour. However, continuous reminders are important for people to change their behaviour from being at risk of HIV infection to that of being safe.
*       The elimination of gender-based inequities should be central part of any HIV/AIDS programme as that puts women at an extremely vulnerable position. Young women must be encouraged continuously to form part of any initiative that aims to address HIV/AIDS within the communities.
 
RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENT
 
*       Make condoms available at all time to as many places as possible.
*       Train soldiers on the basic facts on HIV/AIDS as part of their training.
*       Train soldiers as AIDS educators so that they work within the army tasked with training all the army personnel on different aspects on HIV/AIDS.
 
RECOMMENDATION TO DONORS
 
*       Build the capacity of the military, so as to get HIV/AIDS training as part of the military training.
*       Capacity building so as to ensure that condoms are available freely at all times. The volunteers that distribute these condoms must be given monetary incentives so as to ensure that the condoms are readily available.
*        Projects like this are extremely difficult to start as funds are only channeled to big organizations and not to new initiatives like this.