Mars Theatre Group, Mazabuka, Zambia. The group is supported by PEPAIDS, and uses dance and theatre to educate people about the risks of HIV & AIDS, and other sexual health issues.
PEPAIDS is a UK-based NGO whose mission is to promote and preserve the good health of people in Zambia through the provision of support for HIV/AIDS initiatives and the promotion of awareness of issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. PEPAIDS' local partner NGO is SAPEP, based in the Monze and Mazabuka districts of...
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Mars Theatre Group, Mazabuka, Zambia. The group is supported by PEPAIDS, and uses dance and theatre to educate people about the risks of HIV & AIDS, and other sexual health issues.
PEPAIDS is a UK-based NGO whose mission is to promote and preserve the good health of people in Zambia through the provision of support for HIV/AIDS initiatives and the promotion of awareness of issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. PEPAIDS' local partner NGO is SAPEP, based in the Monze and Mazabuka districts of the Southern Province of Zambia. They work together to empower the rural youth of Zambia to mobilise their communities to fight poverty and HIV/AIDS. PEPAIDS is SAPEP's principal funding partner, also aiming to build SAPEP's organisational capacity to be better placed to perform its function. SAPEP works with a large number of AIDS Action clubs (AACs) who are trained by SAPEP project staff. These AACs are equipped with the relevant skills to support their community and advocate for positive changes in the light of extreme poverty and HIV and AIDS. AAC members are trained by SAPEP project staff in subjects such as peer education approaches; gender, customs and traditions; antiretroviral therapy; and counselling. This training empowers the AACs to support the communities in which they are based in the fight against HIV and AIDS. SAPEP encourages AACs to start income generating activities with the goal of being self-reliant and self-sufficient in their mission to alleviate HIV and AIDS. PEPAIDS has designed its training programme to form a cascade in order to reach as many people as possible. Peer educators participate in Training of Trainers workshops, with skills being passed on to club leaders and club members in turn to benefit the wider community. The training cascade has proved to be a tool with which PEPAIDS can reach many people without spending large sums of money. The entire programme is designed to be sustainable, youth-focused, participatory and culturally acceptable.
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