JAMAICA: Lessons Learnt in Combating HIV and AIDS

Summary: This case study is part of a compilation by Save the Children UK of lessons learnt in contributing to a national child rights-based legal and policy framework for children. Similar reports for Bulgaria and Egypt will be made available on the CRIN website in the coming months.Save the Children UK’s programme in Central American and the Caribbean, created in 1974, has contributed to a national child rights framework, leading to dramatic changes for children and young people. The programme closed in March 2007, and its legacy continues through Save the Children’s partners through out the region.

This is a record of lessons learnt, challenges identified and recommendations made from Save the Children’s experiences over the last five years for all those involved in child rights and development work.

HIV and AIDS in Jamaica
The main programme in Jamaica, “A multi-sectorial response to reduce the vulnerability of Jamaican youth to HIV and AIDS”, promoted a health lifestyle and educated disadvantaged youth about ways to minimise their risk of contracting HIV.

Lessons learnt:

• HIV and AIDS prevention methodology is also applicable to non-school settings and in other communities.
• Tap into popular culture and current events
• The design of participatory learning processes not only allows participating children to become educated about a given topic, but also boosts self-esteem
• Educating young people about socially sensitive issues is a good way of spreading knowledge to the community more generally.

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