14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11101)

Kuate RK, Zeungang ZD, Wankam MW
Yaounde, Cameroon

ISSUES: In the face of the permanent threat of HIV/AIDS, education towards responsibility is being considered as an appropriate framework to provide young people with a comprehensive education that will help them face life and their N é 1 ennemy which is HIV/AIDS.

DESCRIPTION: Education towards responsibility is the main activity of an NGO based in Yaounde, Cameroon. This NGO's mission consists in training teenage students of the city within a group known as "la formation totale" (comprehensive training). The group is directed by a 3 man strong staff which includes a teacher, a psychologist an counsellor. They carry out educative talks, debates, conferences during which resource persons are invited to share their rich experience with the youths. Training is focused on the promotion of moral values and the need for responsible sex behaviour which guarantees efficiency in the figth against HIV/AIDS.

ISSUES: We have noticed that the young people we train have positive behaviours and even appear like models to their counterparts in schools and neighbourhoods. In the face of the havoc AIDS is wreaking in our society for the past two years, we have been focusing on the training of trainers. This are young people between 18 to 22 years who acquire adequate knowledge on hiv/aids and tour villages and towns dispite their limited means, to sensitize hungreds of youths causing them to change their behaviour. Moreover, a scientific study carried out in february 2001 revealed that more than 95% of the young people we train are more aware of the reality of AIDS. We have already carried out educative and awarenes campaigns in 46 villages and towns of our country in collaboration with other NGOs having a similar mission.

RECOMMENDATIONS: We request the help of any support group in order to provide a better training and share our experience with other regions in Africa where people are very poor and undereducated.

020707
D11101

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