Zambia: hopes for a new generation
Partners in the Alliance’s Africa regional youth programme aim to address the vulnerability of young people aged 10–24 to HIV by helping them to think about their own situations, and plan activities to address their vulnerability. Activities include working with male and female traditional counsellors to stop or change harmful practices, working on life skills and positive attitudes in schools, and working with younger children on HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health rights.
Philip Mwansa, the headteacher of Chiwoko Basic School, and Jane Banolo, the deputy headteacher, tell us about addressing HIV in a school setting.
“Talking about sex has been a taboo, so we had to explain to the teachers and parents that with HIV and the increasing abuse of young people our students had to know about these things so they could protect themselves.
“Even so, we still had some upset parents who would come in and say, ‘What is happening? My child came home from school and is telling me these things about private parts.’ Some of the teachers accepted the necessity of these lessons straight away, but some are also parents and were concerned.
“We arranged meetings for the parents and did role-plays and dramas based on some of the topics in the books [developed by the Alliance for Zambian schools]. We did this particularly for the topics that raised the most dust – the ones that talk about private parts, menstruation, wet dreams, such things like that and even the use of condoms. Some of the parents replied, ‘You are meant to be teaching about abstinence’; we said we do that too but the young people need to be aware of what is out there – we can’t pretend it isn’t.
“Our motivation as leaders of the school is what is happening right now in the world – the pandemic – everyone is concerned. Even the church now, and everyone wants to be involved in a solution.
“Parents have said to us, ‘Why is this information only for 10–14-year-olds? We want to learn about this as well.’ We would like to run evening classes for parents but we don’t have electricity, so when the sun goes down, teaching has to stop. If we can get electrical power, we can pass on knowledge power!
“Our hope is for our students to graduate with the skills they need for their survival against HIV and the challenges life today will present them. We hope they will teach their friends. Our hope is the same for all young people in Zambia – an AIDS-free generation.”
Young, Happy, Healthy and Safe, Zambia is a partner in the Alliance’s Africa regional youth programme. YHHS, in partnership with the Alliance and Zambian teachers, developed Our Future: sexuality and life skills education for young people – a series of books to be used by young people in and out of school . The books have been recommended for national use by Zambia's Ministry of Eduaction.