SAPEP/ Peer Education Programme against AIDS (PEPAIDS)

Registered Charity No. 1093039 (England and Wales)

www.pepaids.org

"AIDS and any other STDs can be cured by having sex with a virgin"

"One can reclaim lost wealth by having intercourse with a close relative and taking specific medicines"

"A widow should be 'sexually cleansed' by her brother-in-law to allow the spirit of her late husband to be released"

Despite the lack of affordable drugs, appropriate contraception or access to affordable health care it is strong cultural beliefs such as these that are as much to blame for the spread of HIV/AIDS in many parts of Africa. At present there are 28 million Africans infected with the disease (UNAIDS).

OPS has been supporting SAPEP, an anti AIDS initiative operating in Zambia since 2004 (supported by the UK fundraising charity PEPAIDS). SAPEP differs from many other AIDS projects by directly addressing these cultural problems. Rather than just educating people about HIV and AIDS, SAPEP equips young people with the life skills they need to overcome cultural pressures. It does this through peer education - youth groups are formed through schools and communities and AIDS education is passed on whilst maintaining a balance with other activities such as sports competitions. SAPEP initiatives work because they are delivered by volunteers who live in these rural communities, understand local needs and are accepted by the local population.

In the 2 years since we have been supporting SAPEP they have expanded dramatically to cover 2 regions in the south of Zambia. They have started using regional radio to raise awareness as well extending the activities of the individual youth groups to provide micro-loans and education to encourage small business ventures. In this time SAPEP has also received much support and acknowledgement: their work has been published as an example of best practice in the British Medical Journal; both Dutch and Belgian governments have given financial support and more recently SAPEP won a WHO competition for anti-AIDS programmes - top prize $20,000.

I came into contact with PEPAIDS/SAPEP whilst studying at Nottingham. Hearing first hand from the trustees of SAPEPs successes I feel a strong connection to the project. I truly believe that SAPEP is going to massive, and having the chance to support it at this early stage is really exciting. If you have a further questions please email me john@onepercentscheme.org.

John Arnold - December 2005.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAPEP AND ALEX WHITTLE