Adult HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme

Feedback from National Brands Rosslyn

Earlier this year NBL Snacks took a giant leap in an effort to tackle HIV/AIDS awareness. A group of 16 employees were identified and trained during 21 to 23 May 2003 as HIV/AIDS PEER EDUCATORS. These were proudly introduced to their colleagues at the completion of the course. Each trainee was issued with a certificate of competence together with a presenters' toolkit.

Prior to the abovementioned, a total of 319 employees attended a sensitisation session held on site on the 2 May 2003 in which comments such as, " focussed and highly informative" were echoed. To date a total of 48 shop floor employees have been trained and we continue to receive positive feedback.

Stakeholders wish that the message carried across in these HIV/AIDS prevention sessions will contribute to a positive change in the lifestyle of employees, their families and friends in order to curb the scourge of this epidemic.

HOSEA.V.MOLESHIWA

Feedback from Waltons

Since having completed the training the trainers and I have trained approx. 160 of our employees. The training has become extremely popular amongst our employees, some of whom have even enquired about whether or not we would be prepared to train in their communities/schools and even church groups.

The feedback after each session is always extremely positive. We regularly receive phone calls asking us when we will be holding our next Aids Awareness Training sessions.

Thanks and regards : Karin Tobias

Feedback from Alfred Teyes (ATE)

A number of our shop floor employees went on Peer Educator Training with Lions Life Skills recently.

After this training, I found that not only have these employees changed their attitude towards other employees but they have also broadened their knowledge base on the subject of HIV and AIDS. The in-house training that we have done so far and the positive outcome we are beginning to see are evidence of the good work that was done by Lions Life Skills.

Thank you very much guys, we wish you prosperity in reaching out for the disadvantaged.

Thanks : Elias Gaju - Human Resources Manager

Feedback from Haggie Fibre Products Durban

It is a great pleasure for me to be able to report on the above course that was presented by Lions Life Skills.

The course was well presented and it was a privilege for us to meet different people from different cultures.
I would also like to commend the facilitator who was excellent and managed to change everybody's attitudes, through encouragement and motivation.

As you are aware, many people are not interested in learning about HIV/AIDS as they believe they know it all. The entire group was positive and contributed by asking positive questions, thereby changing their attitudes and thus hoping to change the attitude of people around them.

We were convinced about changing our behaviour, beliefs and to be flexible within our cultures. If all the people of South Africa can change their beliefs and attitude towards HIV/AIDS we can manage to defeat HIV/AIDS. The group was so highly motivated and will be sharing their information with fellow employees, friends and family.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our company and Lions Life Skills for organizing the course, which was excellent and well planned.

It is a very good idea for such training to be made available and "Let us continue to light the candle of Light".

Gerald Gamede

Lions-Quest Programme : Grades 6 - 9

Dr. Andri van der Merwe, the National Lions-Quest Master Trainer, is currently working on the Kwa Thema Project - this is her report :

KWA THEMA :

Kwa Thema was a very violent community where the youth gang leaders ruled the streets and schools and children were not allowed to live at home with their parents. The children stayed in the old mine hostels and the gang leaders took charge. The children could only go to schools when and if the gang leaders gave them permission to. Fifty-three students were shot dead in gang-related violent incidences between 1993 and 1998.

In 1998 the headmasters and 7 teachers from each of the 8 secondary schools were trained on the Lions-Quest, Skills for Adolescence programme. All the grade 8 & 9 students were put on the programme and received the Lions-Quest workbooks.

Since then, there has only been one incidence of violence - a youth leader was shot dead and luckily no-one retaliated.

All the teachers of 10 of the 20 primary schools have also been trained on the primary school programme. The change to the whole community has been described as a "miracle". The District Manager reported that all the learners and teachers are in their classrooms every morning on times and no-one leaves until 2 p.m. The learners and teachers had previously arrived and left when it suited them.

The challenge is to now find a sponsor to train the teachers from the remaining 10 primary schools.