Perreault Magazine - 70 -
Folowing the success of the program and as an integral step to ensure its sustainability, the program is has been offered as a certified short course at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Based on lessons learned, the curriculum now includes an increased focus on the intersections between HIV and GBV, and on the value of using transformative processes to achieve meaningful, lasting change. The ultimate goal is to have a unique, annual post-graduate program on leadership, HIV, and GBV that will continue to train young leaders who can effect meaningful change to improve the lives of people throughout South Africa, particularly women and families affected by HIV, gender-based violence, and gender inequality.
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FELLOW PROFILE
Sinegugu Duma, Western Cape
MENTOR - DRIVEN PREVENTION
The aim of my project was to design and implement a student mentor–driven prevention strategy for HIV/AIDS and unplanned pregnancy among university students. Twenty-three existing student mentors from a student residence at the University of Cape Town were trained to support and teach other students in the residence about safe sex. A series of interactive and specialist facilitated workshops, debriefing sessions and reflections on different safe sex methods for prevention of HIV and unplanned pregnancy were held between February and May 2014.
The knowledge gained from the workshops, following suggestions from the students, was translated into the development of a UCT Safe Sex Mobile Application for Smartphone users. This was developed in partnership with the UCT Samsung Innovation Laboratory. Smartphone users at UCT can now access the App to learn about male and female condom use and other safe sex issues in privacy. I hope to take the project broader than the UCT community so that more people can have convenient access to reliable and up to date information on safer sex.