Report: STREET PLAY WORKSHOP AND TRAINING

Street Play

Background

Street Play is a very effective medium to communicate to our audience about HIV/AIDS.

Since there is drama and real life characters, people tend to identify with the concept that is carried in the plays and hence it is an effective way to impart information about a subject that is frowned upon by the public.

National Workshop

In the year 2010 - 11, NACO conducted National Folk Troupe Workshops in order to streamline the folk performances in the country. The National Workshops were conducted in batches where different states along with their top performing troupes were trained in order to standardize messages across all the states. This TOT (Training of Trainers) Workshop was mainly to ensure that street play artistes and state level employees were thoroughly trained for conducting the training locally in their respective states.

State Level Workshop

The State Level Workshop of Maharashtra was conducted at Lonavla where MSACS and MDACS trained the troupes from across the state.

There were 7 troupes from MDACS, and the troupe representatives were trained on all the themes in the 4-day workshop.

Mumbai Specific Workshop and Audition 

The 7 troupes of Mumbai shared their scripts with the respective troupe members. They were called to MDACS over 2 days for auditions that were conducted with panel members from the field of communication and experts in the program.

The troupes performed all the scripts in 3 locations: Hall 2 of MDACS, entrance area and ground area. 3 separate panels judged and gave them inputs to improve their performance.

On Day 2, the troupes came with the revised performance and put up a performance before 10 panel members.

Every panel member was given an Evaluation Form. They had to give marks for each field marked on the form and each group had to be graded out of fifty marks.

AGENDA

Every group was given a script with a primary and a secondary message and was asked to perform accordingly.

Annual Plan:

Advance planning has been done for one whole year with the names of play troupes, the themes on which they are to perform and the respected areas. This is a total of 800 plays to be performed during one year in Mumbai.

Quarterly Plan

This plan is for the quarter year covering the months of June / July / August 2011 and comprises of 210 plays to be performed in Mumbai during these three months.

June Activity:

This is a comprehensive route plan for the street plays that were performed in June 2011. The image clearly shows the list of areas in which the plays were conducted, the troupes that conducted those plays and also the primary and secondary messages that were imparted while conducting these street shows. All were given specific dates and TI NGOs were allocated the task of ensuring that these shows actually happened. The above list also contains the names of these NGOs that were in charge of specific locations.

Next Step:

The Street Plays will be conducted in phases throughout the year.

Report: HITGUJ AROGYACHE – 2-day Advocacy Workshop

HITGUJ AROGYACHE

What is mainstreaming HIV?:

Mainstreaming HIV is a process that enables development sector to address the causes and effects of HIV in an effective and sustained manner, both through their usual work and within their workplace.

The strategy is to engage different sectors in HIV and AIDS response. It is initiated and sustained by commitment at various levels, particularly among decision makers.

MDACS have conducted mainstreaming activities in the following sectors:

·         The Public Sector projects include MCGM, BEST, Mumbai Police, CBWE, MBPT

·         The Private Sector projects include Crompton Greaves, Tata Power, Ambuja Cement , Cine Jr. & Sr. Artists and Directors, Media (Print & Electronic), Construction Industry, Micro biologists & Pathologists Association.

·         The Informal Sector includes Non HIV NGOs, Community Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations (Sikh Community), Barber Association, Hotel Boys & Employees, Contractual Labors of Solid Waste Dept, Naka workers, HRG (Truckers, Migrants, TG),Nirman Mazdoor Sanghatan, Central Railway Mazdoor Sanghatan.

Dr. Sunita Shanbhag, Professor, PSM Department, KEM Hospital 

HITGUJ AROGYACHE:

This report is all about the Advocacy Workshop called HITGUJ AROGYACHE for the key persons of MAVIM (Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal undertaken by GOM).

The objective of this two-day workshop was to empower women with the correct knowledge as they are the ones who are best suited for spreading the word amongst their own; they are the ones who have the capacity to educate their families and it is the women around whom the families revolve.

Women are considered the weaker sex and hence more vulnerable in our society. At the same time, they are the ones who take care of the health of their family members. This was the main reason to educate women on all these issues that affect the health of people.

Objectives:

1.      To empower women with all the knowledge on HIV/AIDS – prevention, treatment, care, support, STI management, safer sex practice and MDACS services that are available for all this.

2.      To make women aware of the stigma and discrimination that could occur in the society and sometimes even at home.

3.      To get them to participate even at the planning stage on how to spread HIV/AIDS information to as many people as possible.

4.      To encourage women to share the knowledge that they have gained and impart the information to the community.

5.      To impart correct and consistent flow of knowledge to Self-help Groups (SHGs) as they reach out to a very large section of the society on a daily basis.

The Venue & Date:

According to MAVIM, Chembur is central to all the women participants and hence it was decided to conduct the workshop at Hotel Tara Punjab, Sion-Trombay Road, Chembur, on April 26 & 27, 2011 from 10 am to 6 pm on both days.

The Target Group:

The target group included 9 Sahayoginis; 2 staff members; representatives from 26 pockets; representatives of Basti Level Committee (VLC), Loksanchalit Sadhan Kendra (CMRC) and NGOs. There were a total of 35 participants including all the above.

Methods used to impart knowledge:

There were power-point presentations; songs & spots, lectures, question & answer sessions, group discussions, group work and presentations by participants to ensure that no stone was unturned to empower the women present at the workshop.

Dr. Shanbhag conducted the workshop on Day One

DAY ONE:

·         The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Dilip Kadam, Joint Director, Basic Services, MDACS; Dr. Sunita Shanbhag, Professor, PSM Department, KEM Hospital; Ms. Sangita Bhongade, District Coordinating Officer Mumbai, MAVIM; one of the Self-Help Group member and Ms. Dnyaneshwari Sonawane, Consultant (CSM), MDACS.

·         Pre-Questionnaire was filled by the participants.

·         An introductory session was conducted for the participants.

·         Dr. Sunita Shanbhag, Professor, PSM Department, KEM Hospital, conducted a session on Basic Facts on HIV/AIDS.

·         Mrs. Meena Maraskole spoke about Stigma & Discrimination while she cited examples from her own life experiences. The song ‘Tod Do Deeware’ was played on video at this point to underline its importance in society.

·         Dr. Rajashree Sankhe, DD, STI, MDACS conducted a session on Sex & Sexuality; STI Management.

·         The last session was on Effective Communication that was conducted by Mr. Siddharth More, Regional Director, CBWE (Central Board of Workers Education).

The audience is totally attentive during the workshop conducted by Dr. Shanbhag

DAY TWO:

·         There was a Question and Answer session on the MDACS Services that was conducted by Mr. Satyam Palaspagar. Prizes were distributed for the same.

·         Mr. Nitin Dhule and Mr. Kunal Endait from the Lawyers’ Collective conducted a session on the Legal Aspects & National Policy on HIV / AIDS.

·         The third session was a group work & presentation on ‘Working with HIV/AIDS’. This session was led by Dr. Sunita Shanbhag, Ms. Sangita Bhongade and Ms. Dnyaneshwari Sonawane. The participants were divided into 5 groups that were a mix of Sahayoginis; Selp-Help Group members, MAVIM staff and VLC members. Each group had to choose a Team Leader and also a name for their group.

1.      Sakhi

2.      Maitreen

3.      Disha

4.      Jagruti

5.      Roshni

·         Each group was told to work on the following areas and make their presentations accordingly – Current situation; difficulties faced and action plan.

·         It was agreed that AROGYA SAKHI will reach to community by observing Haldi-Kumkum on the birth anniversaries of Savitribhai Phule and Dr. Ambedkar. Haldi-Kumkum is a typical Indian tradition and women keenly relate to this. An invitation for this occasion is very rarely refused and this will ensure a large number of women audience to whom the subject may be introduced comfortably. In the meanwhile, they will also follow the action plan provided by MDACS.

·         They all shared their difficulties regards space and money that were required to implement the program.

·         The Post Questionnaire was filled by the participants after the presentations were completed.

·         Oral feedback was taken by DCO and MAVIM.

·         This was followed by the Valedictory function.

·         Finally, the workshop ended with a Vote of Thanks.

The women formed into groups to create presentations

Impact of the workshop:

·         In the beginning the women were rather reluctant to hear anything related to HIV/AIDS and were not very open to watch the spots related to this.

·         Many misconceptions associated with HIV and some common questions that arise within people’s minds were answered by resource persons. Some of them were:

1.      Is it safe to attend the funeral of a person who has died of AIDS? Will it create social stigma?

2.      Why are dead bodies of AIDS patients wrapped in plastic?

3.      Questions on menstruation cycle – duration, problems, whether sex is okay during MC? How is it related to HIV? Menopause, white discharge and more.

·         The greatest achievement was that more women were invited by the participants to attend the workshop on Day Two as they had found Day One very informative and necessary for life. The program was an unmitigated success.

What is being attempted is to reach out to more and more women who in turn will spread the knowledge to their relatives, friends and counterparts in the various associations. This way, the movement is expected to spread virally, creating a tremendous impact on society.

This presentation is all about plans of action on how the groups will target the public with information on HIV/AIDS

Follow-Up Plan:

MDACS plans to continue Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS issue among ‘WOMEN’. The plan for 2011-12 is to reach out to 7000 women beneficiaries of 500 SHGs (Self-Help Groups) that are found all around Mumbai. They will give correct and consistent knowledge to their family members. This means that MDACS will actually reach out to 21,000 people (SC, Minority and others from slum areas & BPL category) of Mumbai.

MDACS & MAVIM will work together for the cause of HIV/AIDS in 26pockets of MAVIM.

·         Central: 10 pockets in Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar, Kurla, Sion, Worli, Byculla&Mazgaon.

·         Harbour: 6 pockets in Sewree, Wadala, Chembur, Chunabhatti, Govandi&Mankhurd.

·         Western: 10 pockets in Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Goregaon, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Vile Parle, Santacruz, Khar&Bandra.

Group photo of the participants along with Dr. Shanbhag, Facilitator & Ms. Dnyaneshwari Sonawane, Consultant, CSM

Strategy ahead:

·         A campaign called HITGUJ AROGYACHE has been introduced for easier entry in the community as everyone is keen to have good health.

·         The 35 master trainers who have been educated in this workshop have been given the special identity of AROGYA SAKHI (your friend in health) for effective implementation of the program.

·         Special IEC material will be printed and distributed for AROGYA SAKHI and the people they plan to reach out to. These will be in Marathi, Hindi and Urdu.

·         About 160 peer educators will be trained through 4 more workshops that will be coming up soon to ensure that they reach out to the target.

·         SANGATI is a quarterly magazine that is published by MAVIM. It reaches out to all their beneficiaries as well as partners. One issue will be dedicated to HIV/AIDS.

·         Quarterly meetings will be conducted for reviewing the progress. 

WORLD AIDS DAY 2010 - REPORT

THE OBJECTIVE


     This World AIDS Day, the main target was the migrant intervention program and strategy as designed by NACO. The main objective for this is to reach out to all those people who leave their hometowns and come to Mumbai for the sake of earning. These people leave their wives behind and stay in the city for months on end. These are generally from the uneducated public who take low income jobs and lead a hand-to-mouth existence.

     The migrants have the maximum chance of contracting HIV / AIDS when they have physical relationship with sex workers. They were the main targets this year as it was imminent that they be made aware of their risky existence. There is a high chance that their wives will also be exposed to the problem when they travel home once or twice in a year.

Taking away the stigma against condom

Lifestyle of migrants:


•    They hail from a small town outside Mumbai
•    Come to Mumbai in search of employment
•    Live in scattered localities with other migrants
•    Works everyday – daily wage / irregular wage cycle / low wage earner
•    He is a single male away from his wife and family – so tends to stray
•    Returns to his home town during holidays / important occasions


     Hence, it was decided that the migrants should be the primary target this year for WAD activities and the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) organised the following activities on the occasion of WORLD AIDS DAY 2010 (WAD 2010).


     Why is this time of the year considered the best for targeting migrants? Well, most of them usually go home for the different festivals and get back to their place of work – to Mumbai – in this case. This is when almost all of them are in the city and targeting them at this point gives maximum impact to the whole migrant population.

OUR STRATEGY

Light pole kiosk

•    Create an impact by gaining the attention of the migrant – making him aware of HIV.

Behind BEST Bus

•    Removing stigma from the word ‘condom’ and making them familiar with condoms. Also create enough impact so that there is correct and consistent use of condoms.


•    Conducting on-ground activities and reaching out to migrants on a one-to-one basis and scaling up the activity across all areas where migrants live.


•    Amplification of the impact, word of mouth and scalability of the activity through various media and press coverage.


•    The medium used for targeting the migrants were the public transportation systems of Mumbai, namely trains and buses. These are the mode of transport used by migrants and hence the perfect medium to convey the message to them.   

Hoarding at Bandra Circle

BUILD UP to the activities surrounding WAD 2010


•    Hoardings of HIV / AIDS awareness were put up on bus shelters, five railway terminals; on the backs of BEST buses and light poll kiosks.


•    Radio advertisements were given to create awareness amongst migrants about the many campaigns being conducted especially for them on the occasion of World AIDS Day. These were run on Radio City with 7 days build up to WAD & 7 days during activity.


•    Some television channels like IBN Lokmat & Star Majha also announced multiple option questions that required to be answered via SMSes. This was on December 1, 2010.

Suraksha Special

Press Release

•    On December 1, 2010, more than 15 newspapers – including English, Hindi and Marathi – had advertisements in the guise of solved crosswords reinstating the message to use condoms for protection against HIV / AIDS.


•    On the same day, a local train called SURAKSHA SPECIAL was launched at the stroke of dawn. These had a number of messages targeting migrants and spreading awareness.


•    Interestingly crafted SMSes – “cover chadawoh phir rail daudawoh” and more – were sent to the mobiles of migrants. These numbers were acquired by using the pin code of migrant pockets in the city. The SMSes were sent to 10 lakh migrants on December 1, 2010.

Crossword in newspapers

THE ACTIVITIES


     MDACS organised a ten-day-long special campaign on the occasion of World AIDS Day from 1st December to 10th December 2010. The activities conducted are as follows:


1.    Red Flash Mob - Walkathon: 1st December 2010

Walkathon takes off

     This event was organized on December 1, 2010. The walkathon was an attempt to communicate to the public ‘to protect themselves’. The walkathon was organized from Azad Maidan to Marine Lines and was flagged off by Mrs. Mate, Honorable Chairperson, Health Committee, MCGM.


     All stakeholders - TI NGOs, ICTC I/C and counselors, STI I/C and counselors, Red Ribbon Club members, partners, college students took part in The Walkathon. They wore red T- shirts that sported a message and held placards and banners consisting of awareness messages. They distributed red ribbons to everyone. The entire activity received huge PR mileage from various media – Press, Radio, and Television.

Candles for PL HIVs no more with us

     The walkathon began with 1500 participants at Azad Maidan and swelled to a huge number of 3000 on the way as the public joined in the procession before it reached Marine Drive.


     The walkathon ended opposite Taraporewala Aquarium where candles were lighted in the memory of PL HIVs who are no more with us.


2.    Red Road Show: 10 DAYS  (December 1 - 10, 2010)

Inauguration of Red Road Show

     The Red Road Show was arranged for 10 days in the migrant hot spots of Mumbai City in association with the TI NGOs. An SMS led contest was conducted with the objective to remove the stigma and shyness about condoms in which people had to guess the number of condoms displayed on the float in the shape of a 50000 Rs note. This float was launched from MDACS.


     The float travelled to various migrant hot spots. The message displayed on the float was Kitne condom se saja hai ye note batao aur rupaiya 50000 le jao.  The winner of the contest, Mr. Rajesh Gupta, a rickshaw driver from Govandi, was awarded Rs. 50,000 during the Closing Ceremony in the MDACS compound. The prize money of Rs. 50,000 was sponsored by DKT India.

Over the whole time span, 35,000 plus people were exposed to the show. 

Sticker activity

3.    Sticker Activity: 6 DAYS

     A six-day-long sticker activity was arranged during the rush hour on local trains as well as on BEST Buses where the activists in crowded places placed AIDS awareness stickers on people. The activity was done in a way that effectively communicated that:


•    AIDS can happen to any one
•    The need is to always be responsible and use a condom


     There was excellent response with local travelers showing enthusiasm in sporting the sticker, and be a part of the awareness drive.


28795 commuters were witness to the sticker activity this year. 

4.    One minute play (Pickpocket activity)

Hindi Newspaper - pickpocket activity

Press Release

This was a one-minute drama where a pickpocket steals a man’s wallet in a crowded place, (they were both actors) and instead of escaping, the pickpocket draws attention to himself by calling out to the victim. A loud dialogue between the pickpocket and the victim says that this is exactly how HIV could pick on anyone if they’re not careful.


“Pata bhi nahi chalega, aur ho jayega…” and the message was ‘be alert, be responsible – Use a Condom’


This activity was arranged for 5 days during rush hour in Local trains as well as in BEST Buses. (Dates?)


The Pickpocket activity reached out to 17500 plus commuters on buses and trains.

5.    Closing ceremony of the campaign

Grand Finale - Entertainment

     The Closing Ceremony was held on December 10, 2010 at Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society, Acworth Complex, Wadala.


•    It began with the department of IEC (Information-Education-Communication) presenting the highlights of the year.
•    The occasion was used to felicitate those who voluntarily helped the IEC department in collaborations and enabled the spread of knowledge about HIV/AIDS in the society.
•    The winner of the Red Road Show was announced on the same day and Mr. Rakesh Gupta, an auto driver, was awarded Rs. 50000 by MDACS and DKT jointly.
•    There was also a dance program to entertain the crowd and was well received.

Mr. Rajesh Gupta awarded Rs. 50000 prize cheque

What the newspapers have to say about World Aids Day 2010


A number of newspapers - English, Hindi, Gujarati & Marathi - had a lot to say about the activities surrounding WAD 2010 that were conducted by MDACS.

Pudhari

Times of India

Gujarat Samachar