Country: Burkina Faso
Church or denomination: Non-denominational/ Inter-denominational
Project summary:
Realizing that Radio is one of the most powerful tools to reach rural Burkinabè
populations, we began collaborating with Christian radio stations from the
start. There are 2 radio channels: Radio Evangile Developpement (RED) which
has stations in the towns of Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Leo, and Ouahigouya,
and Canal Viim Koega (CVK), which has one station in Ouagadougou. Both channels
hope to increase their number of stations, but RED has already started to
install 4 new transmitters in the towns of Boussé, Yako, Koudougou, and Houndé.
Our work in AIDS programming began last year in collaboration with RED. In
2001, RED and World Relief produced 40 weekly emissions on AIDS, transmitted
at the 4 existing stations in French and in 2 national languages. The formats
used consisted of interviews, reporting, and panel discussions. Each emission
is about 30 minutes in length. Both a complete report and copies of the cassettes
of these emissions are available (in French).
History/Background: World Relief has been involved in supporting
churches in mobilizing churches against AIDS for nearly 10 years. In 2000,
we started to build upon our successes in East Africa by opening a regional
AIDS office in West Africa, based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. We are focusing
on Burkina Faso this year but in the following year will put more effort
into neighboring countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, and Nigeria.
Since we began, a large number of churches, non-government organizations
(NGOs), and community associations have been mobilized and networked. World
Relief exists to strengthen their capacity and is assisting them in seeking
funding to enable them to reach their communities.
Goal: The goal is to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and to support affected
families through the mobilization of Christian organizations and their local
communities.
Objectives:
1. The Christian community and its various structures – churches, associations, and NGOs – are active and collaborative in HIV/AIDS programs, supporting national strategies.Who does the work? The project is carried out by a partnership of churches, community-based organizations and HIV/AIDS associations.
2. 20 Faith Based Organization-partners are implementing effective community-based HIV/AIDS programs with financial support, technical support, monitoring, and evaluation.
3. Stigma of AIDS is reduced through behavior change communication via churches, community groups, role models, theater troupes, and written material.
4. A cadre of trainers is actively training community leaders in HIV/AIDS counseling, home-based care, and youth behavior change.
5. Adapted teaching and training tools are being exploited at the community level through at least 20 partners.
Main activities:
Expected outcomes:
- Coordination and networking
- Selection and management of sub-grant process to build capacity in community-based AIDS activities
- Radio spots
- Trainer of trainers workshops in pastoral counseling and home care to establish a volunteer network
- Adaptation and production of Behavior Change Communications (BCC) materials such as the home care manual, pastoral counseling manual and youth education manual
Short term outcomes:
A series of tools for AIDS prevention, counseling, home care, training, and
community mobilization is available to the Church in Burkina Faso.
Medium term outcomes:
- Increased number of people hearing accurate messages about AIDS in churches
- Increase in the median age of first sexual activity
- Greater percentage of the population showing tolerance and compassion to AIDS patients
- Increased number of Christian associations providing AIDS care in their community
- Improved access to AIDS test, accompanied by church-based counseling
Long term outcomes:
- Reduced incidence of AIDS among the targeted youth population
- Improved quality of life for persons living with AIDS in targeted communities
Results: The emissions have had a powerful impact both in the city and in
urban areas. The first result has been to decrease the stigma of AIDS, in
order that people realize that those affected by AIDS are deserving of compassion
as much as any other human being. The second result is improved information
about AIDS, removing misconceptions and providing convincing facts about
preventing AIDS, particularly from the Christian perspective. The third is
the improved mobilization of local churches as a result of these radio emissions:
with an increased understanding both by local populations and by church leadership,
more and more churches have committed to organizing their communities and
providing leadership in the fight against AIDS. World Relief continues to
help support the church in this commitment.
Testimony of a Pastor whose attitudes were changed through World Relief’s program
As a direct result of the Conference of Christian Leaders organized by World
Relief on the theme Role of the Church in the Fight against AIDS, my understanding
of AIDS has completely changed.
Previously, AIDS for me was a worldly matter, a payback for sin for which
the church could do nothing, except perhaps to receive those who came to
the church. Too bad for the others; they are paying their price.
Now, I’m convinced that the church should seek those affected by AIDS with
a message of acceptance and compassion, a message of hope. Knowing that AIDS
is a disease, not unlike other diseases, helps me feel closer to AIDS patients.
World Relief discussed these attitudes about AIDS and provided a document
called “Helpers for a Healing Community”, which I very much appreciated.
Thanks to the Biblical ideas presented, my relations with members of our
church have radically changed. I try now to listen more attentively, and
I can feel that my responses are more effective, better targeted and more
appreciated.
Recently I initiated an AIDS program among our congregation which was adopted
by the church. This was inspired by World Relief, and I constantly refer
to their documents to deliver messages as well as to adjust my own behavior.”
Note: Following the encouragement of World Relief to put into place local
AIDS committees in the churches, this pastor was a key factor in creating
the committee in his church denomination. He has been elected president of
that committee, which has planned practical activities such as home visits
to the sick and prevention among youth at summer camps. In our recent meeting,
Pastor requested World Relief’s assistance for a workshop training regional
Apostolic church leaders on the theme: The Church Faces AIDS: What Strategy?
This workshop is planned for 31 Jan – 2 Feb 2002, with the participation
of 30 pastors plus women and youth leaders. The pastor himself took the initiative
to organize this workshop which is financially supported by the church itself.
Lessons learned:
- Churches, communities, families are the front line of response to AIDS; they need to be equipped and supported to maximize their impact.
- Funds alone are not an adequate solution, and can actually be harmful if they flatten a community’s response rather than augment its capacity.
- Coordination and networking are essential components to enable the churches to share ideas and resources
- Rural areas in Burkina Faso are heavily impacted by AIDS due to migration; churches are well placed to lead the effort especially in these zones.
- Training of trainers allows a multiplier effect, and professional training should accompany the distribution of written tools.
Despite the successes, we realize that we can do better in the year to come.
We are hoping to include more theatre-type programming, use other more entertaining
formats, and involve more people living with AIDS. However, due to budgetary
constraints we have not been able to realize these goals, and in fact at
present the frequency of emissions has been reduced. We are currently researching
additional financial support.
Financial and other resources: This project is seeking funding in order to
multiply its impact, as described by the objectives above. Funding for activities
to date has been provided by World Relief.
Further readings or documents: Hope at Home home-care manual available in
French, Choose Life series of 3 manuals for youth education: Child edition
has been translated and printed, Pre-adolescent manual pending translation,
Adolescent manual translated by not yet printed, and Biblical Counseling
Manual--currently being adapted for the local context
Contact information:
John Scicchitano
Telephone: + (226) 36-1681
E-mail: Jscicchitano@wr.org