Materials and multi-media approaches to engaging communities on taboo topics

Today we has lots of fun discussing the important interaction of materials, media and face-to-face meetings. We were sharing the lessons from the region around community dialogues and how to facilitate discussions between the ages (intergenerational dialogues).

No better way to get the discussion going than role-play activities. What a morning we had. Kick started by our own Positive Talk TV Host Tariro Chikumbire, we were challenged to come up with a guide to help parents, guardians and other community gatekeepers use cultural practices positively to support young peoples access to comprehensive sexuality education.

The group work really got us thinking and once we stimulated the discussion with an especially dynamic episode of Positive Talk TV Zimbabwe that focused on Menstrual Hygiene Management, the participants rolled up their sleeves and began to role play discussions with community members on this very taboo topic of sexuality. At times we had to throw our hands up and start again! In the end we got there and drafted the content frameworks for a regional guideline on conducting intergenerational dialogues and discussed key messages for community gatekeepers.

The success of this meeting is the collaboration between the facilitators and the participants. These participants are awesome- meet the remaining country team members from Malawi, Uganda and Lesotho.

 A one lady team from Lesotho: Itumeleng Motemekoane, from PHELA in Lesotho

 Team Uganda: Agnes Asulo, Uganda AIDS Council and Godfrey Walakira, Straight Talk

Team Malawi: Jessie Kazembe, UNESCO and Simon Sikwese, Pakachoe (missing Naireti Molande)

Tomorrow we conclude with some action plans and formalising a regional mentoring network on scaling up CSE and engaging community members on this important issue.