May/June 2010 programs in Zambia (by Jill Hansen)

Jill & Jami stand with the winners of the skit competition

The May-June 2010 trip to Zambia was a positive, encouraging experience for everyone involved. Four STS-USA members teamed with John Payne (HIV/AIDS Missions Officer) to lead intensive programs clubs at 2 schools a day for a week, for 2 weeks and 4 schools total. The students were divided by age and gender into 4 groups of 25-50 students, each taught by an STS-USA member and a translator/facilitator of the same gender. This smaller, classroom-based model seems to be our most effective model yet, and separating the boys from the girls allowed the students to be much more open and honest than they would have been in a co-ed setting. Each day began with a Life Lesson that was designed to get the students thinking about their lives in general and how HIV can affect them, then moved in to a 45 minute lesson about a specific topic related to HIV- Biology, Anatomy, Transmission and Prevention, and Getting Tested. We even designed a skit about how HIV attacks the immune system and had the students participate, amid much laughter and nervous giggling. We also devoted time during each session to allow the students to work on their Presentations- skits that they wrote and directed that explained some aspect of HIV/AIDS and its physical, emotional, and/or societal effects and causes. Most of the students loved performing the skits and did a wonderful job! At the end of the week, we hosted a Sports Clinic that allowed the students to play games in a safe environment, as well as learn about STS and basic sports injury hygiene. A great time was had by all- Tug of War was the most popular game, with the 3-Legged Race coming in a close second.

---

Trip Theme - 'A Generation of Restoration'

We were also encouraged by the number of students in our groups who were members of the STS clubs at the schools, and by how much many of them knew about what we were teaching them. In many cases, they taught us things about how HIV affected them and about how their culture and society responded to the virus. We also enjoyed spending time with the facilitators, both official and unofficial, and the Executive Committee. Through meeting with them, we were able to learn some valuable ways in which we can interact more effectively and streamline our teaching so that we can truly be a Generation of Restoration. The upcoming August trip will also help us revisit administrative tasks and hopefully streamline the leadership practices even further, in addition to the primary trip objective of working with Enfys Orphanage in Murundu.

---

Part of the April/May team in front of Murundu Basic School