From ZANA, Zambian News Agency
An International Education organization embarks on puppets to sensitize children on HIV/AIDS
Lusaka - An Education has said the use of puppets to educate school children about HIV/AIDS is the only way the message can be effective.
Peter Merckx said that message becomes powerful as it is presented to the children in a more practical way.
Mr. Merckx was speaking at the launch of the HIV/AIDS awareness programme for Basic Schools in Lusaka through the use of Puppets, Music and Drama.
He disclosed that about $10,000 has been put in the project of raising awareness of HIV/AIDS through puppets, music and drama in Basic
School.
Mr. Merckx pointed out that while all the other channels have been exhausted the use of puppets is something new and it would have a powerful impact because the children will learn through the entertainment with the puppets.
“This is the first time in Africa that puppets are being used to educate children on HIV/AIDS and through this way they will pick up one or two things about the disease,” he said.
He disclosed that prior to the launch of the programme, his organisation held a workshop for 22 teachers drawn from Government and Community
Schools in Lusaka and Central Provinces.
He said that the workshop was to teach the teachers on how they can make puppet theatres, puppets and how to use them to educate pupils on HIV/AIDS.
Mr. Merckx said that the teachers who attended the workshop would in turn teach their fellow teachers in their various schools and hopefully they would carry on the campaigns against the deadly scourge through the use of puppets among the pupil.
And one of the teachers who attended the workshop, Christopher Mwanza of Kalingalinga
Community
School said the programme of using the puppets is working.
He said the evaluation exercises that the teachers are carrying out are proof enough that the pupils are getting the messages.
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