Report: Monitoring RRCs in Colleges

Poster created during the competition

Introduction

This monitoring was conducted from November 4 to 14, 2011 at the following colleges

1. Jai Hind College
2. Ruia College
3. SIES College for Commerce & Economics
4. KJ Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce
5. KJ Somaiya College of Science
6. SK Somaiya College
7. Dhahanukar College
8. Sathaye College
9. MD College
10. Chetna College
11. MMK College
12. Sophia College
13. NM College
14. Bhaudas Vartak College
15. Bhavan’s College

Many events were conducted at these colleges to increase knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS and also to make sure that the students knew enough to increase and spread awareness amongst their peers.

Seminar on HIV/AIDS

THE CODE FOR RRC EVENTS:

1. Friendship Day
2. International Youth Day
a.    College Event
b.   Community Event
3. Seminar on HIV/AIDS & Services
4. Seminar on Stigma & Discrimination
5. ICTC/Blood Bank Visit
6. Competitions

WORKSHOP

Friendship Day

A workshop was conducted in each college. The students were impressed with the technical knowledge that they acquired about HIV/AIDS. The condom demo that was conducted helped them relate to the concept comfortably. It helped normalize their perceptions regarding condoms.

The workshop helped clear a number of misconceptions among the students and also brought along key information to those present. The workshop helped the RRC members deal much better with queries from the students.

MEMBERSHIP

A membership drive was promoted at all the colleges bringing together a number of students who were keen on being a part of the RRC.

EVENTS

IEC Material on display

The RRC members conducted Street Plays to bring awareness to the public. They also held competitions that brought about more awareness amongst the youth. IEC materials were displayed at prominent areas in the colleges carrying important messages regarding condom use and other precautions to be followed to prevent HIV/AIDS.

RRCs displayed the Condom Cutouts given to the colleges and many of the students enthusiastically took pictures along with the cutout and posted their pictures on facebook Condom Mera Dost page, increasing awareness virally.

Students in a procession on IYD

Many posters were created during the poster competition and these were displayed for everyone to see bringing forth more messages and the visual appeal made sure that everyone understood the messages correctly.

IMPACT

• Students insist that RRC has made it comfortable to discuss issues like HIV/AIDS.
• Students are motivated to take awareness campaign out of college in the larger society.
• Students say that RRC gave them an opportunity to network among youth their age and discuss HIV comfortably.
• RRC in the college has helped to sensitize and educate students
• The students felt that the RRC events were effective; they could see a change in awareness levels among students. And the fear of HIV/AIDS was reduced as students come and ask questions and take active part in RRC activities.
• RRC has helped to increase technical knowledge about HIV/AIDS among students
• Through RRC, there has been a change in students – ‘more knowledge & less stigmatization’.

SOME OUTSTANDING EFFORTS PUT IN BY RRCs

Reaching to Children of FSW – RRC of JAI HIND COLLEGE

RRC students from Jai Hind College have been organizing a 1 day excursion for children of Female Sex Workers on World AIDS Day. This event is slowly becoming a tradition with the RRC team planning this trip again this year.

RRC team of Jai Hind feels that apart from the agenda given by MDACS, they need to conduct activities and reach out to target groups in the community. When planning this excursion, they first identify an NGO who has networks with the FSW community and after meeting the children, they plan a day long excursion in the city of Mumbai.

Poster Competition

Children are taken in a bus along with RRC volunteers to various spots in the city, games are conducted for them and finally the entire troupe enjoys a meal together. This effort is a positive sign of mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS with the youth of Jai Hind setting a big example for the other RRCs to follow.

Reaching out to Youth of other colleges in Mumbai – RRC of SOPHIA COLLEGE

RRC of Sophia College conducted the following 2 HIV/AIDS awareness activities in their intercollegiate event:

Street Play

1. Game Stall: At a stall put up, a game regarding HIV/AIDS awareness was played , and participants were offered prizes for getting the answers right. Through this activity, they were able to reach people from different colleges as well. Their professors also actively participated in this activity. Around 300 people took part in this event.
2. Volunteers made paper bags with information about AIDS and MDACS on them. These bags were then given to kiranas and other shops.

RRC also distributed questionnaires to the first year senior college students to assess their knowledge about HIV/AIDS. They found that their knowledge levels were quite good.

They have an AIDS awareness program for students from junior college every year, which is attended by around 600 students. They also come out with a newsletter that publishes informative articles and stories about HIV/AIDS.

Report: TRAINING FOR PROFESSORS OF RED RIBBON CLUBS

Background

Red Ribbon Clubs are youth groups at colleges who work for spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS among the youth. Since youth is a vulnerable population it becomes essential to communicate with them. Red Ribbon Clubs (RRCs), which work under the guidance and leadership of the Communication Department of MDACS, enable us to reach the objective of communicating to the youth.

The Structure

These clubs are formed with the help of professors in colleges who support social work. These professors are called 'Program Officers'

Further, there are students who volunteer to run the awareness program. They are called the 'Peer Educators' as they influence and educate their peers. It is the Peer Educators’ responsibility to conduct awareness drives and get more students to join the club. Those who join the club are called 'Red Ribbon Club Members'.

Since the professors and the students spread awareness about HIV and bring answers to various queries of the students, it becomes essential to conduct intensive 2-day training programs for them so that they are able to convey the right information.

The role of a Professor in a student’s life:

A Professor is not just a teacher of a particular subject. He is also one who guides the students in many different ways. At school, the equation between a teacher and student is one between people of two different generations. But at college, the professor kind of becomes like an elder brother, sister or friend and someone the students can look up to in times of need. Because of this relationship, the students are more open to listening to their professors than anyone else.

This is the very reason why MDACS decided to bring Professors into the equation and trained them to impart the right knowledge to their students on HIV/AIDS and safe sex.

The professors were trained in 2 ways.

NSS Professors Training - Venue: NSS Office, Churchgate

Topics:

1. HIV and AIDS
2. Scenario of HIV in our country
3. Causes
4. Prevention and Treatment
5. Youth Vulnerability
6. Communication with the Youth
7. Behavioral Change Communication
8. Stigma and Discrimination
9. RRC Guidelines

Sensitization Workshop for NSS Program Officers was held on 27th June, 2011 & 170 Professors participated. These Professors will be program officers for RRC at colleges.

Training of Trainers - NSS Program Officers

Over and above the annual training of the professors, there were some professors who expressed an interest of being trainers. They were enthusiastic about taking time out and train those who are in need and have to be trained about HIV. On their request, we specifically conducted a TOT (training of trainers) for the professors.

Training of Trainers for Professors was organized from 25th to 27th May, 2011 where 19 professors were trained.

Day 1:

The first day was fully about information on HIV. All that students need to know about HIV was taught to the professors as knowledge is the best way to fight the spread of any disease.

Day 2:

On the second day, the Professors got to learn the target groups and how to go about helping them. They were also given information on the various services made available by NGOs and other institutions to help fight the spread of HIV.

Day 3:

The third day was an intense training on communication. The professors were taught how to approach youth, talk to them, the ways and means to train them and more importantly, being prepared to answer their very many queries. The professors were especially made aware of the biggest challenge that they would be facing - to influence the youth in such a way as to effectively change their very attitude towards HIV and safe sex. The professors were made aware of their responsibility to ensure that everyone needed to unlearn so many myths and wrong beliefs and be taught the correct information.