Scouts of Swaziland Partner with UNICEF on HIV/AIDS Prevention

SWAZILAND: Emavulandlela Swaziland Scouts Association (ESSA) are using the storytelling technique in the dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS and life skills regarding the challenges life is throwing at us every day with the aim to reduce HIV infections. This has been made possible through a partnership with UNICEF-Swaziland. 20 Rover Scouts (16-26 years) have undergone the Scout Instructors training and received Trainers of Trainers certification and went on to train 63 other instructors to support in implementation of the project.

The behaviour change training focused on an innovative peer communication strategy, in an effort to reduce the infection rate amongst the youth in the country by drawing attention of the young people then artistically disseminating HIV/AIDS information and encouraging their peers to seriously give a thought of what they can do to reduce HIV/AIDS infection rate individually and collectively as a community.

This has helped to increase knowledge, impart skills and build the capacity of not only the young people but also the Association in general, allowing them to better reach out to their peers and communities. As a way of reaching youth to more young people with the information among other youth programme activities the ESSA have planned a Mini Jamboree to take place later in the year.