Ou C; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. ThPpD2104.
World Education/Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Issues: Cambodia's rural poor are vulnerable to the AIDS epidemic sweeping through the country. Innovative approaches are needed to empower rural communities to face the challenges of the epidemic with internal resources. Description: FLS is a participatory learning program for adult farmers. Trained facilitators assist FLS participants to identify and analyze problems in their community, and to generate solutions using community resources. Information is collected through interviews with individuals who have first hand experience with the identified problems. In the case of HIV/AIDS, participants interview people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and their family members. Lessons learned: To date, approximately 100 facilitators have been trained, and they in turn conducted 30 FLSs with 750 participants in 7 provinces. Participants examined HIV/AIDS as a community threat, analyzed the root causes of their vulnerability, and developed action plans to protect families and communities. Action plans included awareness raising campaigns, resource mobilization to assist affected families, advocacy for treatment availability, and elimination of discrimination against PLWHAs. The FLS learning methodology was found to be effective in helping farmers develop critical thinking and problem solving skills for addressing HIV/AIDS and other community problems. The model has also been piloted with youth in and out of formal education as the "Village Life School" (VLS) helping participants develop the skills that assist in avoiding high-risk activities. Recommendations: A number of broad scale education programs specifically related to HIV/AIDS are about to commence in Cambodia, especially targeting younger people both in and out of school. Linking these programs with an FLS, which promotes generic skills and has a strong local focus, will increase the impact of the model in reducing vulnerability and ultimately decrease new HIV infections and improve community support for PLWHAs.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adult
- Behavior
- Cambodia
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Personnel
- Health Planning
- Health Planning Guidelines
- Health Resources
- Humans
- Rural Population
- Schools
- Teaching
- United States
- education
- organization & administration
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102281993
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