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A novel approach

Campaigns that are innovative help create better understanding of issues

PHOTO: K. GANESAN

FOR A CAUSE Creating awareness

Success of any awareness campaign hinges on how effectively the drive reaches the audience and the impact it creates on the receiver. It is imperative to chart out an efficient medium to carry the elements that will bring about the awareness.

Organisers of a training programme for cultural troupes and `out-of-school' youths in rural areas on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) perhaps understood this better while embarking on a mission to explode myths and misconceived notions on the killer virus.

Interesting

The four-day workshop was intended to train youths to create awareness on HIV/ AIDS. The modus operandi of the organisers to spread this message was interesting. They firmly believed that the significance of the preventive techniques of this killer virus could be carried forward better through cultural performances including street plays, folk songs and dances. The training programme, as a result also helped to hone the theatrical skills of the volunteers.

Jointly organised by the United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF), Nehru Yuva Kendra and Song and Drama Division, Regional Centre, Chennai, the programme envisaged life skill education for rural populace.

"Creating awareness does not mean that people are ignorant of HIV/AIDS. We wanted to break the myths about the killer virus. Hence, we have organised this workshop to train the youths who along with traditional artistes, engaged by the Song and Drama Division, will perform in villages," Vijayaraghavan, Regional Deputy Director, Song and Drama Division, Chennai, explained.

The workshop was conducted for youths from four districts, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Theni. For every district, four teams of 10 persons each were identified to perform in 40 villages. Each team comprised seven traditional artistes and three NYK volunteers. In total 40 programmes were planned for each district. "It is a good attempt to involve NYK volunteers along with the traditional artistes, as these trained volunteers will in turn equip other NYK volunteers in the villages to form a cultural troupe and do such awareness campaign on a regular basis. This workshop is considered to be a good capacity building exercise," said R. Mathivanan, Youth Coordinator, Tirunelveli NYK.

The workshop was organised mainly to evolve scripts for the programmes. "Each programme will have different script and the team has been empowered to effect its own changes as per public reaction. After every performance the team will study the response and get a feed back from the spectators and analyse and incorporate the inputs in their content. Besides, the members of the team will also act as resource persons and dispel all myths about the dreaded disease. They will also clarify all doubts and explain to the public the preventive measures," M. Sadacharavel, Regional Coordinator, NYK, detailed on the programme.

Role of UNICEF

The teams were taken on a field visit during the training programme to Vallanthoor, Kovilankulam, Karuveppilai and Chokkathevanpatti villages, where they were asked to perform.

All valuable information, gathered in the villages, would now be incorporated in the content to cater to the needs of the people, before the teams embark on a month-long campaign, expected to start from March 20.The role of UNICEF was to provide technical expertise.

"Their inputs on HIV/AIDS awareness educated the members. They helped the teams in developing their content," said Mr. Sadacharavel about UNICEF involvement. The NYK has already conducted a day's orientation programme on HIV/AIDS in 120 villages in each district and selected two peer educators from each village.

"This has worked to our benefit. Once the cultural team starts its performance, the trained peer educators in that village will act as a catalyst and bridge the gap between the public and the performers. They will initiate the interactive sessions," Mr. Mathivanan outlined.

Discussing sensitive issues in public is always problematic for any campaigner.

But once you get closer to people it becomes easy to get them educated, for which the cultural performances provide a good platform. By choosing the right path the organisers' mission to encourage rural population to shed their inhibition and get their doubts cleared through interaction has become a reality.

T. SARAVANAN

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