2004 - 2005 : HIV/AIDS

Also see YASI 2006-2007 : Gender Equality

More on this page

Project Partners 2003 - 04 | Project Stages | Training module | Outstanding Youth Initiatives | Special Category Prizes | Statistics and Lists | Stories from the Field

YASI (04-05) Project Partners

State AIDS Prevention and Control Society, Govt. of West Bengal

Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., A Govt. of India Enterprise

Thoughtshop Foundation

Project Stages Launch | Stage I | Stage II | Stage III | Awards |

Launch Event

The project was launched with a press conference on September 27th 2004 at Nandan III, to create awareness about the project amongst media, youth networks and colleges.

Stage I : Training

November 2004 to January 2005

Of about 50 colleges/youth groups interested, 34 participated within the designated time period. 1412 young people were trained as peer educators across different sections of society. The participants were expected to return with proposals for compete in Stage II

see participants profile, training module, training events list

Stage II : Hand holding of Teams

November 2004 to February 2005

37 proposals were received; some cautious and some ambitious. In consultation with Thoughtshop Foundation the teams developed their ideas, upgraded their knowledge and skills to be able to conduct events.

A mid project review event was held on February 12, 2005. Participating teams attended to share their progress and to inspire each other.

Stage III : Youth Initiatives

World AIDS day 2004 to March 2005

The project received an overwhelming response. 24 teams (350 active members) implemented their respective plans within deadlines. Between January and March 2005, teams had organised 85 events in Kolkata and neighbouring districts, reaching out to at least 11,000 people directly.

These events were video documented, monitored by a team of observers and evaluated by a panel of judges.

see winning teams, youth initiatives list

Award Event

Outstanding initiatives by these young people were showcased on April 9, 2005 at Vidya Mandir. Teams were awarded certificates, trophies and cash prizes. Young people came from far off locations to attend the programme.
The programme was anchored by popular RJ'sPragya and Rakesh, courtesy 93.5 Red FM.

The event was also attended by organisations working on similar issues, and representatives from the media.

Training Module and Tools

The training sessions were designed to be completed within 4 hours, and conducted with groups of 50 participants. A series of tools were developed so that trainers could make best use of available time. Open ended Q&A sessions were held at the end of structured activities. The objective of the trainings were :

• to establish the importance of HIV/AIDS awareness among youth, and motivate young people to take action
• to arm them with correct knowledge and attitudes
• to help them formulate a robust plan of action that is relevant to their context

Invisible Virus

(Bengali / English, 6 min, VCD)

This film was created as a curtain raiser for the interactive sessions to follow. The film describes global and local HIV/AIDS scenario (2005), sets a context for youth involvement, and calls for urgent youth action.

HIV/AIDS Kit

This tool kit was developed by Thoughtshop Foundation and tested for over the previous year (2003-04) with young people. Peer educators were handpicked during this time and were given extensive training to participate in the YASI project.

more about the HIV/AIDS Kit

Planning Cards

These cards were developed to help young people understand the process of planning. The activity helps young people identify the message, target audience and method appropriate for their contexts.

One set of cards are used to define objectives, another set to discuss possible strategies to achieve those objectives.

Outstanding Initiative Awards 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Ramnarayanpur Kalika Sangha

Joint winner : Youth Initiative of the year: Youth Group

Highlights : Consistent impactful performances in interior villages, 17 events, reaching 2500 people. Gained popularity through word of mouth. Journeys doubled as bicycle rallies. Positive messages

Mayurbhanj Joint Citizen Center

Joint winner : Youth Initiative of the year: Youth Group

Highlights : Organised open forum with local religious leaders, madrassa teachers and students. Sensitive issues handled tactfully. Invited respected religious leader to chair meeting and add credibility.

Jadavpur University team Aid for AIDS

Youth Initiative of the year: College Team

Highlights : Focused awareness campaign on 3 top issues based on research; film show with debate on sexuality and condom use; condom desensitising competition during on campus festival.

Jadavpur University team Saviours

Youth Initiative of the year: College Team Runners Up

Highlights : Intensive interaction with audience, public discussions on sexuality, condoms. Street play on stigma & discrimination, care and support. Events at 3 locations, including Kidderpore, a high risk locality in Kolkata.

12 Special Category Prizes

Aastha

For a group that used cultural performance effectively on World AIDS Day

Highlights : Spontaneous and entertaining public discussion. Excellent public response. Implemented on World AIDS Day 2004.

St. Xaviers College

For a group who reached out to a wide range of audiences

Highlights : High energy street performances; the team organised their own press coverage for added visibility

Lutheran World Service Manoranjan Palli Team

For a group that mobilised community resources effectively

Highlights : Convinced local cable TV operator to screen film on HIV/AIDS, stigma & discrimination, care and support issues. Campaigned in community prior to screening

Jayprakash Institute of Social Studies

For a consistent and serious group

Highlights : Requested for, and undertook special training on workshop facilitation. Consistent and regular workshop based interventions at schools colleges and clubs.

Baruipur College

For a group that showed excellent skills in conducting workshops

Highlights : Remarkable group effort, excellent workshop skill. Training workshops on campus, schools, local club; other interactive events in public places. Clear and accurate messages.

Wigan Leigh College

For a team that used an imaginative interactive method to spread awareness

Highlights : Conducted an interactive workshop in class; performed an innovative play on stigma and discrimination during college festival. The play involved characters inviting audience members to participate in discussions, demonstrations.

Lutheran World Service Talbagan Team

For the youngest motivated team

Highlights : Engaged people in conversation, while distributing leaflets; created excitement and curiosity with candle lit rally in their own locality.

St. Thomas College

For a team that used technology effectively for awareness

Highlights : Created their own audio visual presentation on HIV/AIDS awareness, screened it in the college as a part of an interactive session

Youth For Development

For a group that was consistently well organised

Highlights : Conducted a variety of programmes with different audiences; interactive workshops, quizzes, leaflet distribution.

Pratyay

For a team that worked against all odds

Highlights : Leaders of two different teams joined hands and continued to work despite being let down by friends. The duo conducted a series of events including interactive film screenings, quizzes and leaflet distribution.

Barrackpore College

For a group that worked well as a team

Highlights : this was the largest team with more than 30 members! Every member participated with enthusiasm, dividing tasks amongst themselves with admirable ease. conducted a variety of programmes including questionnaire based survey, interactive workshops, film screening, leaflet distribution.

Naihati College

For a team that had the most variety

Highlights : Staged plays, demonstration at science fair, conducted quiz and poster contests, film screening, leaflet distribution

Statistics and Lists

Stage I Participant Profiles (100% = 1412)

Socio Economic distribution	Geographical distribution	Educational distribution

Stage I Baseline Findings Top five unclear issues

The Baseline Questionnaire comprised 12 true-or-false questions related to HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. A total of 1259 young people filled up the baseline questionnaire. Of these 52% were female and 48% were male. The top 5 unclear issues appeared to be :

1. Not knowing where to go to get oneself tested for HIV
2. Not knowing how to use a condom
3. Not knowing the link between HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections
4. Not knowing that there is no risk of HIV infection while donating blood
5. Not knowing the need to use a condom during every sexual encounter

These issues were consciously addressed during the training workshops.

Stage I: List of Trainings

 #

Date

Name

Location

Type

Description

Particip.

1

03.11.04

TTWWSI/ Elan

Kolkata

Urban

Youth Group

9

2

05.11.04

Lutheran World Service (Talbagan)

N24P

Slum

Youth Group

28

3

06.11.04

Wigan & Leigh

Kolkata

Urban

College

25

4

08.11.04

Lutheran World Service (Rajarhat)

N24P

Slum

Youth Group

33

5

18.11.04

Vidyasagar School of Social Work

Kolkata

Urban

College

55

6

19.11.04

St. Thomas College of Engg. & Tech.

Kolkata

Urban

College

58

7

23.11.04

Baruipur College

S24P

Rural

College

44

8

24.11.04

Jadavpur University

Kolkata

Urban

College

57

9

25.11.04

NCC

S24P

Rural

Youth Group

48

10

25.11.04

NCC

S24P

Rural

Youth Group

58

11

26.11.04

St Xaviers

Kolkata

Urban

College

44

12

30.11.04

Vocational Training Institute (Moulali)

Kolkata

Peri Urban

Youth Group

21

13

01.12.04

Garden Reach Bangla Basti

Kolkata

Slum

Youth Group

41

14

02.12.04

Maharaja Manindra Chandra

Kolkata

Urban

College

41

15

08.12.04

Narayan Sriti Sangha

S24P

Rural

Youth Group

57

16

09.12.04

College of Nursing

Kolkata

Peri Urban

College

24

17

10.12.04

Surendranath for Women

Kolkata

Urban

College

54

18

14.12.04

Kalighat Milan Sangha

Kolkata

Peri Urban

Youth Group

25

19

15.12.04

Ramnarayanpur Kalika Sangha

S24P

Rural

Youth Group

30

20

16.12.04

Barrackpore College

N24P

Peri Urban

College

112

21

17.12.04

NUJS

Kolkata

Urban

College

28

22

18.12.04

Ankur

Kolkata

Slum

Youth Group

34

23

18.12.04

Kolkata University: Gulnaz's group

Kolkata

Urban

Youth Group

12

24

20.12.04

Mayurbhanj Joint Citizen Centre

Kolkata

Slum

Youth Group

31

25

21.12.04

Presidency

Kolkata

Urban

NSS College

73

26

22.12.04

Moulana Azad

Kolkata

Urban

NSS College

59

27

23.12.04

Theatrecian

Kolkata

Urban

Youth Group

13

28

29.12.04

Bengal Social Service League(Rajabazar)

Kolkata

Slum

Youth Group

38

29

30.12.04

Rishi Bankim Chandra College Naihati

N24P

Peri Urban

College

44

30

4.01.05

Youth for Development (Kanchrapara)

N24P

Rural

Youth Group

30

31

6.01.05

Ramananda Centenary College

Purulia

Rural

College

47

32

7.01.05

Maharani Kashiswari

Kolkata

Urban

College

40

33

13.01.05

NCC

Kolkata

Rural

Youth Group

64

34

14.01.05

Bijoy Kumar Girls

Howrah

Peri Urban

College

35

Total

1412