Art and Theatre combine to engage youth in HIV prevention in St Lucia
© IBE/S. Bonnet
UNESCO has partnered with the Saint Lucia Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Culture to support a school-based art and theatre programme in observance of World AIDS Day. Seeking to engage young people in HIV prevention and educate them about how to protect their health, an art competition is being held among all secondary school students on the island. Renowned local artists make up the selection committee, and will award four prizes on 1 December 2011.
The project will not only empower young people to speak about HIV and AIDS and advocate for their health, but it will also be used for prevention and anti-stigma campaigns. A public art exhibit at Town Hall will feature the winning World AIDS Day artwork, and the pieces will be featured into 2012 on a calendar and installed in local institutions.
The educative theatre component is being implemented by Youth Studying Performance and Culture, an organization that specializing in social and behavioural change and education. Young people have developed short dramatic productions that will be presented in eight secondary school districts. The scenarios presented will engage audiences in eliminating discrimination, in line with the global goal of ‘Zero Discrimination’ in this year’s World AIDS Day theme.
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