Innovative use of youth force (13 years to 21 years) through ICE - Information Communication through Entertainment.
Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10216)
Pranaya Kumar Dutta MR Sonata foundation calcutta, Kolkata, India
With India sitting on an AIDS time bomb it is imperative for the future of the country to control the spread of this deadly disease. Clearly, teenagers are among those most at risk and this is the vulnerable segment that must be targeted if AIDS is to be checked. With this aim in view, SONATA FOUNDATION, CALCUTTA (SF) - an NGO, is carrying out 'Operation Overcome', a unique wide-ranging AIDS awareness programme in conjunction with the NCC - the largest youth organization in the country. Approach: The AIDS awareness project is being conducted by the SF in 7 universities, 199 colleges and 572 schools in all 19 districts of West Bengal and 4 districts of Sikkim. The aim is to make all 93000 NCC cadets in these two states completely aware about all aspects of AIDS and AIDS prevention. These cadets are in the age group of 13 to 21 years. Project:'Operation Overcome' is an initiative of the SF, with qualitative back-up provided by the NCC. The programme started with an AIDS awareness road show by SF from Kolkata to Delhi that travelled through 9 states in February 2003. But the core of 'Operation Overcome' revolves around NCC camps. They are encouraged to spread the message among their friends and family and become catalysts for social change. These members had received a training of 120 hours. They even perform different dramas and sing songs so that their message can easily reach to the country people. Implications: From May to October this year, 20000 cadets have been trained within just 6 months in all aspects of AIDS. Since the trainers are from the same age group as the trainees, communication is easy and the programme is showing unprecedented results. It is expected that all the 93000 cadets in West Bengal& Sikkim will be exposed to the aids awareness programme, who in turn would have spread the message further to another 200000 individuals of the same age group and many more in the older groups.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Communication, Organizations, Leisure Activities, Demography, Behavior, India, Sikkim, Adolescent, Humans, Adolescence, utilization, education
