South Africa
Dance4Life School Initiative
Activity Dates
2006 – ongoing
Activity Summary
 Dance4Life uses dance, drama, drumming and video to relay messages about sexual and reproductive health and HIV and AIDS. The Dance4Life school initiative aims to address the needs of those young people who form the group that is highest at risk of contracting HIV. The messages are relayed in an informal, innovative and exciting workshop format which encourages the entire school to become active as agents for change in the HIV and AIDS environment.
This is supported by a more formal education process called “Today’s Choices”, which is implemented by the Sexual Reproductive Unit of the Stellenbosch University in partnership with World Population Fund in classrooms during school time. The concept is endorsed by the National Department of Education, implemented by DramAidE, and supported by Dance4life in 30 schools in 2 provinces: Kwazulu-Natal and Western Cape. The program will soon expand into all 9 provinces.
Objectives
- To empower young people to make educated and informed lifestyle choices
- To develop resilience in young people to have healthy sexual reproductive lives
- To support a movement of young people to take charge of their future
Implementation
 Skills4Life
The life skills programme consists of 8 modular workshops that closely mirror the content of “Today’s Choices”, a CD-ROM that helps young people make healthy choices in their (future) sexual lives. Every week the learners explore different themes in an interactive, informal, cultural, and educational manner. Sample themes include adolescents and relationships, making decisions about sexuality, reproductive health uses, and adolescents and STIs/HIV/AIDS. A Facilitators Manual and a Student Notebook were developed, tested, and printed to support Skills4Life.
Act4Life
The Act4Life programme conducts sexual and reproductive health (SRH) advocacy training in schools in order motivate and equip students with the skills to advocate for change in the school and community environments. The programme culminates in a SRH school-wide project. In previous years, students have developed posters, started petitions, coordinated HIV testing campaigns, and assisted community HIV and AIDS interventions.
 International Dance Event
Every two years, the programs culminate with an international dance event held on the Saturday before World AIDS Day.
Audiences
Young girls and boys aged 13-19 years
Partners
CHOICE, Stop AIDS Now (SAN), Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, DramAide, CADRE, Gods Golden Acre, The Catholic Institute of Education, Targeted AIDS Intervention, Scouts Association of South Africa, Twilight Children, University of Stellenbosch; Childrens Institute; Save the Children (UK), AREPP Theatre for Life.
Back to South Africa
Note about materials: Some of the materials and resources listed on each page are available in their full form, others are represented by image or citation only. For more information and resources, go to www.jhuccp.org
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