Educating young people

There are many different and necessary aspects to the battle against HIV/AIDS. Paul Chitnis, SCIAF Chief Executive, explains how the Scottish aid agency is helping to educate young people in the Democratic Republic of Congo

“If you reject people living with AIDS then you are rejecting humanity. We are all made in the image of God. Everyone has to be accepted. Life has to be respected, ” sang the teenage peer-educators at SCIAF-funded project, Halt Sida, in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A strong message made even more powerful through their wonderful music and voices.

Sketches and songs written by the teenagers illustrate the diversity of the problems faced in the daily fight against HIV/AIDS. Subject matters included combating stigma, explaining how the disease is spread, and advocating the importance of abstinence and fidelity.

Cardinal O’Brien said:
“The message that SCIAF is helping to promote to people in the Congo is that abstinence before marriage and faithfulness during it are sure ways of avoiding HIV/AIDS. This is a message that none of us should avoid or dilute.”

What the young people and staff of Halt Sida lacked in resources, they made up for in enthusiasm and dedication, taking their messages to neighbouring villages as well as to the youth who live in Bukavu. In the town centre, the project also runs a youth club and a cyber café. Nadine, one of the staff explained:
“Our objective is to keep the youth busy – give them something to do and somewhere to go. We provide games, videos and a café forum.”

Those attending the youth club are encouraged to watch educational videos about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) before relaxing by playing pool or draughts. Cardinal O’Brien was soon persuaded to join in the activities. He was impressed by the dedication of the peer educators. Seventeen-year-old Daniel explained why he had become involved:
“I feel it’s my job to let fellow students know what Halt Sida is doing about prevention and to answer their questions. If I can’t answer them then I direct them to Halt Sida staff.”

A chart on the wall lists the number of visitors to the youth club each month and it is immediately apparent that very few girls attend. They spend their time in the evenings undertaking more traditional pursuits including cooking in the family home. Halt Sida is in discussions with the local Church in an attempt to address this problem. Teenage girls need to be educated about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and they are considering using local Church groups to reach them. The project is also trying to link with the local novitiate to teach the novices about HIV/AIDS so they can spread the messages through their work in the community.

Another SCIAF-funded group, Codilusi, has specially tailored education programmes that they run in schools, titled: ‘Education for Life’. Cardinal O’Brien and I chatted with the children about the programme. They explained that their parents found it difficult to speak to them about HIV/AIDS so they had been ignorant of the issues. However, they now had a better understanding because of Codilusi’s training.

Fidele from Codilusi explained:
“We train peer educators and hold debates. We also use radio and television to spread prevention messages but we always feel we could do more. Bukavu is a big area and has lots of people. We try to diversify our activities so there is something for everyone.”

For young people, the pressure to have sex is intense. The Church in the Congo explains fully the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy for avoiding HIV/AIDS. Ultimately, the Church asks individuals to be fully informed and then to take their decisions, following their informed consciences.

Cardinal O’Brien concluded:
“I listen to and welcome the debate which is taking place about how the world and the Church approach the issue of HIV/AIDS. In his message for Lent this year, Pope John Paul II invites us to reflect on the condition of children: ‘What too of the tragedy of AIDS and its devastating consequences in Africa? It is said that millions of persons are now afflicted by this scourge, many of whom were infected from birth. Humanity cannot close its eyes in the face of so appalling a tragedy!’ ”

Published in the Scottish Catholic Observer, February 2004