HIV/AIDS Awareness for School Going Youth, Zanzibar

JUKEWJIMA (Jumuiya Ya Kuendeleza Elimu Jimbo La Makudunchi) is an organisation in Zanzibar with the main goal of improving the quality of both primary and secondary education in the Makunduchi Constituency.

Ameir M. Ussi led the project but involved youth in the management and implementation of the project and they also submitted a report concerning their involvement.

"The focus of this project was to raise awareness amongst teachers and students in particular and the community in general about the issue of HIV/AIDS especially in the area of infection/transmission, effects and stigmatization and discrimination. This objective was planned to be met by implementing 4 main activities with 5 subsidiary tasks. The project activities were undertaken in all nine schools of Makunduchi constituency namely; Kiongoni, Kusini, Makunduchi Secondary, Miwaleni, Kajengwa Mtende, Kizimkazi Mkunguni, Kizimkazi Dimbani and Kibuteni. Each school had to invite a minimum of 60 students in all activities of the project. The project then was expected to involve more than 540 students that is about 10.9% of the total number of students in the constituency (4947)."

The main activities of this project included:

• Organise viewing of films relating to HIV/AIDS followed by discussions.
• Conduct mini lectures sessions accompanied by role plays.
• Organise competition among youth for song/jingle highlighting HIV/AIDS issues.
• Organise two panel discussions on HIV/AIDS issues involving youth from local peer counseling groups.

Although South District is one of the least HIV/AIDS infected district among ten districts in Zanzibar, the need for imparting HIV/AIDS knowledge could not be escaped. Implementing such a project which focus on both prevention and care is necessary so that no new infection can be reported and those who are living with the viruses being supported accordingly.

JUKEWJIMA attempted to undertake this initiative to young people especially those in schools as part of its basic role in the constituency. The methods used to portray the HIV/AIDS message to students were acceptable to both students and education authorities in the district.

The community at its side was very impressed to the initiative taken by JUKEJIMA and call for further development of such health educative programs. As the project seems to meet its immediate objectives, the impact of the knowledge will be observed after a while.

- Ameir M. Ussi

Final Report [.pdf 138Kb]
Youth Report [.pdf 89Kb]
Overview of the different activities and outcomes of the project

Background information
Objectives, activities, progress reports, workplan, project proposal

Source: Geoatlas Graphi-ogre

Makunduchi students at
a song competition

Kiongoni students at
song competition

Discussion after viewing
film at Kizimkazi School