“How To Be a Health Activist"
In 2008 the Centre for Diseases Control USA funded UWC under an HIV/AIDS public health programme. As part of this funding mechanism, Alan Christoffels and Patricia Struthers from the UWC Physiotherapy Department were funded to develop educational materials for grade 8 learners. The purpose of this Resource Kit which comprises a learner’s workbook, interactive DVD and teacher’s guide is to engage and educate teenagers about TB in particular, within the context of HIV. It aims to support them in making informed decisions about their lives to help mitigate some of the risks of infection.
During the next 3 years the resource was tailored to grade 7 – 9 learners, in close co-operation with schools in Elsies River, Ravensmead, Khayelitsha, Mossel Bay, George, Riversdale and Ceres, to accommodate the national Education Department’s criteria. 4 000 copies of both the workbook and DVD were distributed to learners in some of the pilot schools.
A web portal was also developed to enable learners and teachers to access the material via the internet (http://skill4life.org). The external monitoring and evaluation process was completed in February 2013. On Saturday, 7 September 2013 a launch event was held to acknowledge the input from the pilot schools and to showcase the material and DVD. Approximately 100 stakeholders from schools, provincial and national departments of Education and Health were in attendance. The opening address was delivered by UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Brian O’Connell who also read a statement of support from Education MEC Mr Donald Grant.
Highlights in 2014:
- The resource was translated to Afrikaans
- Western Cape Education Department agreed to roll out this resource to schools in the Western Cape.
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