Role Playing Leads to Deeper Understanding

With the basic understanding of HIV/AIDS under their belt, it was time to drill down a little deeper to understand the biology of the virus and how it is transmitted.

Just like most of us the students in the HIV/AIDS Youth Leadership Awareness and Feminine Hygiene program pick up complex information when the theories are illustrated in an exercise.

One of the exercises that was not only the most effective but also a lot of fun was the one in which some students acted as adult elephants, one played a baby elephant and another acted as a lion.

The adult elephants, like healthy cells, protect the immune system, portrayed by a baby elephant, from antigens, portrayed as a lion, like malaria, the flu, typhoid, etc.

The last character was the role of HIV.   If HIV attacks the cells (the adult elephants) the immune system is vulnerable, thus becoming sick.... not from HIV but from whatever antigen is attacking the body.

Sound confusing? It was a little.... but the young people got the idea and had a great time fighting off the lion, rather the antigen!

Then it was on to discussing AIDS and T cells.

This discussion was a little weighty, too. Thank goodness for David Gai and Rebecca Diing's medical expertise and Daniel's acting abilities!

Things got very interesting when we moved on to transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

The students' eyes just about fell out of their heads when we told them we were going to demonstrate how to use a condom.

I think they thought we were going to demonstrate how to use a condom!

Fortunately for all of us, a clinic nearby lent us a "model."

The students acted maturely, for the most part, aside from giggles and funny faces from time to time.

Although these young people, again, ages 13 to 20, have seen more in their young lives than most adults in America will ever see, they are still in many ways naive.

Many had never heard of a condom let alone seen or held one. Each student got to open a package containing a condom as we explained how it is used.

We lightened up the conversation by having them blow up the condoms like balloons and then decorate the classroom with them. Soon the energy and room felt like we were decorating for prom!

One of the exercises in which we began to see a real shift in how girls realized their own power is when we asked the girls to explain a female's menses to the boys.

It was exciting to see the girls becoming more comfortable with talking and actually leading the discussion.

The students were divided into small groups of about 4 or 5 and we could hardly get them to stop talking when the session had run well past the allotted time!

We did notice, however, in at least a couple instances, the vast difference, the huge gap between the level of critical thinking between the boys and the girls. Of course, that speaks to how important PESS's work is educate girls in particular here in South Sudan.

All in all, it is thrilling to see the needle move at least a little bit when it comes to girls  realizing their power, boys respecting girls and each other, and the students getting a solid understanding of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention!

-Tamara

Teacher Training

After weeks of preparation in the U.S. and here in South Sudan 10 teachers plus three health care professionals joined us this weekend for the beginning of the training of The HIV/Aids Awareness program in Bor, Jonglei, South Sudan. The leadership at Langbaar Modern Academy has graciously agreed to allow us to host the trainings there every week!
We shared with the teachers, mostly biology and other types of science teachers, the exercises, curriculum, etc. which we'll teach the students. PESS is encouraging the teachers, students and the community... even the government to take the content from this pilot program and incorporate in to their own classrooms, share with friends and other officials and leaders throughout the state of Jonglei and eventually the entire country.

With Daniel's great connections here we invited a representative from the county and the state to open our training this weekend.
In his remarks, John Malueth Aluong, an official with the County office of Education encouraged Project Education South Sudan to continue the work it has accomplished over the years. Mr. Aluong also encouraged the teachers to support PESS's efforts. He said education is the way South Sudan can move forward and become a great country.
 
Many of the teachers in our training course this weekend have another profession. Daau bit Atem is a former soldier. Jacob Matiop Deng is an up and coming journalist. Another teacher is an attorney... and yet anothor, Mary, is a student herself, studying to get a masters in government administration at John Garang University.
 
As we went through the manual (the same one we will use with the students over the next few weeks) the teachers really got animated and excited about the discussion around the cause, origin and spread of HIV and AIDS.
We are fortunate to have joining our team David Majur and Rebecca Deng Mou. Both are professionals in the healthcare world here in South Sudan and were able to back up Daniel, me and the the manual with more detailed science about HIV and AIDS.
For example, the lack of circumcisions here in South Sudan is a real issue, as David Majur explained. The virus and other sexually transmitted diseases can be trapped in the foreskin and spread from partner to partner.
 
Another discussion point the teachers brought up: What is a 100% way not to get HIV/AIDS?
Of course, they all knew the answer. Abstenance (and of course, not exchanging blood and other body fluids through other methods) is the best way to not get the virus.
However, we are not here to preach abstinence (Whew!). Rather we are hear to help empower the people with knowledge, i.e. the importance of hygeine, being honest with your partner, etc.
We also discussed how I.V. drug abuse can transmit the virus.
 
But these science teachers also have compassion in their hearts. We spent a lot of time talking about how to make someone with HIV/AIDS feel comfortable and welcomed in thier community.
This was a great segue in to the chapter on stigma and discrimination. This will be a great topic to discuss with the students: simple things like don't gossip about someone who may have HIV/AIDS, include those with the virus in to your activities at school, and let them share their stories .....and then listen to them.
 
This week Daniel and I are now prepping for the students training which will begin this week.
 
We will have about 30 to 35 students ranging in age from 15 to 20 years old from at least three schools. I've already met some of them, and of course Daniel knows most of the students. They are leaders in their schools. And with this training on HIV/AIDS Awareness and Feminine Hygiene and Leadership Training, the young people will have even more tools in their tool box to take South Sudan to the next level.

Tamara

Enthusiastic Participation!

In the backdrop of the state government shutting off power in town to force people to attend a town hall (the governor encouraged Internally Displaced People - IDP's - to return home) .... and the national government threatening to throw journalists in jail who interview rebels ( those involved in the December 2013 unrest).... students here in Bor, Jonglei are enthusiastically participating in the Project Education South Sudan Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness and Leadership program.

Communication was a bit of a challenge from time to time...my Dinka is not that great! LOL! But Daniel Majok Gai is not only a great translator but he is also great at getting the students engaged.  The group is a balanced mix of both boys and girls, ranging in age from 13 to 20, from three different school: Langbaar Modern Academy, Sunlight Primary, Bor College. In all, 28 students right now.   John Garang University students will be joining us soon.   And, we are excited to have five PESS sponsored girls join us in this program! 

Kuei Achiek Ngueny, Akur Ayuen Mayen, Yom Ayor Anyang, Anai Agua Anyang, Deborah Achol Mayen. 

We all remember biology classes where we talked about the reproductive system and personal body parts, right? A bit intimidating, even a little embarrassing. That was also true for our South Sudanese students but by the end of the first class they were already game to have lively conversations about gender roles and stereotypes and eager to learn more about female menstruation management.

We also discussed human rights... that both boys and girls, men and women have the same rights.

In fact, one girl said females have the right to play football (soccer). We had to give her a high five for that!

At one point in the training we separated the boys and girls for about an hour as the girls went in to a detailed discussion about menses (with the wonderful support and knowledge of Rebecca Diing Mou, healthcare specialist here in Bor).... while Daniel and David Gai (HIV/AIDS specialist) led the boys in a discussion about gender roles and stereotypes in another classroom.

We showed the girls how to make charts so they can better keep track of their cycles. And by the end of their discussion the boys changed some of their own stereotypes about women.... like the women are weak. Daniel and David explained that when given an opportunity girls and women are as smart, strong and capable as men.

Later in the program the girls will teach the boys about menses.... and we'll have both males and females discuss stigma and discrimination together.

Lunch conversation:

Politics and the crisis from December 2013 is never too far away from the students' minds.

A group of about ten students were having lively conversation, really more like a debate, at lunch time. I sat down next to them and asked what they were talking about as one girl got up and stomped out of the little room. They said they were talking about the violence in December 2013 that rocked the country. Bor ... and the nation's capital, Juba, were at the epicenter.

The upset girl was defending VP Reich Machar's actions.

(background: AJAM - https://archive.org/details/ALJAZAM_20140117_010000_News#start/2280/end/2340)

 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/23/south-sudan-state-that-fell-apart-in-a-week; 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/12/30/373831086/a-lost-boy-helps-the-girls-of-south-sudan-find-an-education)

In spite of their different opinions the students are able to sit in the same classroom and learn. (Good role models for their leaders.)

At then end of this training session Daniel and I showed the students how to make Red Ribbons, a symbol of HIV/AIDS awareness.  They'll use these as a conversation starter and get their peers engaged in talking about HIV/AIDS, safe practices, risky behavior, etc.  In the coming sessions we'll go deeper in to HIV/AIDS understanding.

And later in the program we'll discuss how to use the ribbons as a fundraising tool for projects.

The headmasters (principals) and teachers are encouraging the students to take advantage of this information and opportunity to learn about HIV/AIDS, leadership and hygiene.

No doubt they are doing that!

Tamara

Education: The Change Agent

The first weekend here in Bor has been busy, filled with meetings with people Carol and Daniel have identified to work with us on PESS' HIV/AIDS and Hygiene Management Program and Sanitary Pad Production Program.

Sunday was church service early in the morning. Three hours long! (So, that's where my African American ministers get it!)

It was a lovely service at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Some of the children performed songs and dances and Daniel and I were asked to speak. We brought greetings from PESS and our Denver friends and supporters from across the U.S.

Earlier in the weekend Daniel gave me a tour of his neighborhood and showed me where bullet shellings from the "crisis" in December 2013 are scattered on the paths and bushes.

There hasn't been any violence between the leading tribes recently but it's never far away. Sunday night a bull horn blared an announcement throughout town - fighting broke out as a result of a cattle raid about 35 miles north of Bor. Reportedly, five people were killed.

But as the night lingered and children rested the night before the first official day of school ... parents are hopeful the peace holds so they can keep their children in class this year.

(Later I'll write about child soldiers who are returning home.)

When we recently met with the Dean of College of Education at John Garang University early Monday morning, David Malual. He's excited to have his teachers and students from the university join us for the HIV/AIDS and Hygiene Program.

There's a common theme in speaking with the education community here in Bor. They want transformative change. And they believe education is the change agent. Young and old are hungry for knowledge.

Seems like PESS is in alignment with the goals of the community when it comes to education.... and leadership!

Meantime, back at Daniel's compound, his lovely sister Ayen prepares a delicious meal of rice, lentils and kisra (paper bread). And Ajah, Daniel's cousin joins me for dinner. I don't think I will starve here!

Tamara

First Week in Bor

Sitting under a the clear sky my first night in Bor with my South Sudanese family I hear chanting, horns honking... and yelling.
The journalist in me kicked in! I think, "I'll grab my camera. Daniel will get everyone to safety. I'm here to cover the revolution!"

But I'm both relieved... and disappointed that the sounds I am hearing are jubilation for a wedding.

A little after a year the sounds of violence have been replaced with joy. Life is slowly returning to normal here in Bor, Jonglei state, one of the two focal points of the crisis in December 2013. When violence erupted, more than 2000 people in Bor alone were killed.
The rebuilding now is steady, exciting and hopeful.

Meanwhile, in Daniel's compound, the Gai family has embraced me as a sister.

The future is bright but tough... however, me dear friend Ajah Gai tells me, "God planted us in good soil." Indeed she is right!

More to come! Running out of internet!!

   

Tamara