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TEACHERS GUIDE

This publication has been made possible with the generous support of the American people through USAID/Kenya, under the APHIA II Operations Research Project, a cooperative agreement (No. 623-A-00-09-00001-00) between the Kenya Mission and the Population Council.

Talking to students about HIV in a relevant and exciting way is not always easy.

This guide to KUWA SHUJAA comic 3 will help you change that.

Is it reall necessary for students to get

tested or HIV?

If my students want to take risks with their

health, why should I try and stop them?

It’s none of my business what my

students do in their free time!”

What will my school think of me if I tell them I have

been tested for HIV

Every child has the right to a good education, including children with HIV.

Education has the power to slow the spread of HIV.

Schools are places where care, support and tolerance can be provided for those infected and affected by HIV.

LET S GTE T

•Encourage discussion amongst your class about the benefits of getting tested for HIV. •Ask them about their fears and concerns. •Discuss misconceptions and tell them where they can get the right information.

This guide offers suggestions for classroom activities that will assist you in teaching HIV in a new and exciting way.

Many children are born with HIV. If they don’t know their status then they can’t be treated properly. It’s also true that many students are sexually active. They need to be encouraged to get tested regularly so that they can make healthy choices.

Getting tested for HIV is not something to be ashamed of. It should be encouraged.

WHY HAVE WE GIVEN YOUR

STUDENTS A COMIC?

The purpose of ‘KUWA SHUJAA’ is to ensure that all school environments are places where those with HIV are free from stigma and discrimination.

You, the teacher, are the person who can make this happen!

FA

CT

:

3

In this story bullies accuse Benson of being HIV positive because he is so thin. BUT as a result of Manywele’s openness about his HIV Benson is able to stand up to the bullies.

When people disclose their status it reduces stigma. YOU can help normalize HIV and AIDS by talking openly about it in your classroom.

Have your class to act out Manywele’s story. Choose di�erent students to play the parts of the di�erent characters.

CLASS ACTIVITY

CLASS DISCUSSION

WRITING WORKAsk the class to write a short essay pretending to be Benson. Here are some things they can include in their essay:

How does it feel to be bullied? Why does Benson think his classmates are treating him so badly? What does he want to say to the bullies? What does he think about Manywele? How can he change the bullies’ behaviour?

Encourage your class to read out their stories when they’re finished.

Encourage your students to be open with each other and discuss who knows their status. Remind them that they do NOT need to tell people what their status is. Congratulate those who have been tested. Ask the others what their concerns are about getting tested are.

CLASS ACTIVITY.

TRUST ME!Page 9

Write the debate topics provided in the comic on your black board.Pick 2 teams. Each team should have 3 people. Person 1 introduces their argument. Person 2 gives the speech. Person 3 thanks the speaker and summarises their argument. Let the 2 teams pick one of the ‘debate topics’ below. One team argues YES. One team argues NO. Each team takes it in turns to present their argument to the class. The class votes which argument they have been most convinced by. The team with the most votes is the WINNER!

CLASS ACTIVITY: See page 9 of KUWA SHUJAA for the ‘TRUST ME’ rules.

This fun activity is meant to help build trust amongst your students so that they feel safe to share personal information with each other, particularly around the subject of getting tested for HIV.

Encourage the students who are leading to think the responsibility they have when someone puts their trust in them. Encourage the students who are being led to put all their trust theirleader. How does this make them feel?

You can do this debating activity with the whole class.

After the activity, you can link it to the theme of ‘getting tested for HIV & the benefits ofknowing your status’ by asking your class some questions:

Who do you really trust? How do you feel when someone trusts you?What makes someone trust worthy?What makes someone untrustworthy?Who would you tell if you wanted to get tested for HIV?Who would you tell if you found out you were HIV positive?

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celeb speakwyreif you choose to visit a

VCT and

get tested it is a commendable

decision. Knowing your status

can help you to plan your

future. Have YOU been tested?

fact

ULIZA DAKTARI

PAgE 17

In this story Jipendo is treated badly because the school suspects she has HIV. Malkia encourages Jipendo to get tested.

They meet the celebrity Wyre at the VCT. He comes to their school to encourage everyone to be tested.

Wyre encourages the students to know their status and plan their future. He also talks about what it means to be a hero.

Ask your class to discuss who their heroes are. What makes someone a hero? How can they be heroes in the school?

The students in your school have put many, many questions about HIV/AIDS into the anonymous KUWA SHUJAA drop box. Some of these questions have been answered by an expert. Read the questions and answers with your class.

• Have they learnt anything new? • What other questions do they still have? • How can you help them find the TRUE answers to these questions?

KNOW YOUR STATUSPLAN YOUR FUTURE!

ACTIVITY:

GET CREATIVE!

HOW TO START ASCHOOL CLUB!

HEADMISTRESS: “Clubs are a great way to make a large school seem smaller. They are also a great way to lend support to those who are

infected and affected by HIV.”

• Collect some adverts and posters that advertise HIV messages and show them to the class. • Which ones do they like? Why?• Which ones don’t they like? Why?• What makes a persuasive advert?HE G T C AT P 19

o put the r ur-

C IVIT

• W ch o es don t t ey like? Why? What makes a pers asive dvert

En ur g your students to hav strong and pers a iv

Encourage your students to have fun designing the poster while making sure that their message is strong and persuasive.

TIP: Alternate the designs on the boards in your classrooms and around your school.

The students have the opportunity to put their art skills to the test and design an adverts encouraging people to get tested for HIV.

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Here is a recap on what the VCT process entails. It is important for you to know this process and be able to talk the students through it.

VCT stands for Voluntary Counselling and Testing. VCT is the process by which a person can learn whether or not he or she is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

A person is always counseled before and after the test regardless of the results.

The decision to go for testing and to receive the results is voluntary.

If the test is negative, the counselor will discuss the importance of prevention of HIV and other STIs to reduce risk of infection in the future.

If the test is positive, the counselor will offer compassion, support and practical advice. They will refer the client to the appropriate medical services. They will suggest support groups for them to attend. Follow up sessions to ensure meaningful and long-term support will be necessary.

The counselor keeps PRIVATE everything that has been discussed.

Courtesy of ‘Tuko Pamoja: Adolescent Reproductive Health and Life Skills Curriculum’

kuwa shujaa production charles j ouda | bridget deacon | fatima aly jaffer design salim busuru art salim busuru | eric muthoga | noah mukono | kevin mmbasu stories grace irungu | daniel muli | peter kades published by well told story: www.wts.co.ke