SUMMARY:

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) project aims to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS by focusing on preventing transmission of HIV for teachers and caring for orphans and vulnerable children in the workplace. SADTU has existing national and provincial partnerships with the Department of Education and was a member of the team that developed the National Strategic plan with the Department of Health. SADTU has also established relationships with other HIV and AIDS organizations around the country. This will ensure sustainability of program after PEPFAR funding. The target population for these activities are teachers, and primary and secondary school learners.

BACKGROUND:

The HIV pandemic has created workplace environments that are not conductive to quality teaching and learning for both educators and learners alike. The school as a workplace is plagued by high levels of stigma. This often results in educators suffering silently and becoming victims of the pandemic despite high perceptions of knowledge of HIV and AIDS. As a result many educators do not have the courage and support in the workplace to go for voluntary counseling and testing, since knowing your status is not publicly encouraged. Consequently most educators discover they are HIV positive when they start showing symptomatic illnesses that do not respond to medications. By this time their CD4 counts are usually low and they can no longer function optimally at their schools with compromised health. SADTU aims to address this by focusing on HIV prevention and increasing access to care and treatment services.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

Activity 1a: Training teachers (union leaders) as peer educators

The SADTU workplace program will seek to sustain peer education for teachers. IEC materials focusing on prevention, knowledge of HIV and AIDS, PMTCT and human rights will be used to ensure that the peer educators can implement activities after the initial training. The focus of the prevention messages will be a comprehensive ABC approach with a focus on the be faithful message. SADTU will work, through the trained peer educators to increase community involvement, and increase male involvement and awareness around HIV prevention, PMTCT, the role of male norms and behaviors in HIV transmission through peer education groups. Peer education support groups may consist of mixed gender, female or male participants and are mostly attended by HIV positive people. In addition, through community involvement activities, SADTU will ensure the distribution of IEC materials to educators and communities. In addition, teachers in each of the target schools will be trained as school OVC caregivers. Thirty-six school educators called ‘site gender conveners' in SADTU, will be trained on children's rights, stigma reduction, HIV prevention, abstinence and being faithful and care giving to orphans and vulnerable children.

Activity 2: Increase access in local languages to HIV and AIDS prevention knowledge

The SADTU workplace teachers program will target educators and learners through age and gender appropriate group activities and community mobilization to increase knowledge around HIV and AIDS prevention. The program will focus on addressing gender inequalities by reducing violence and coercion, and addressing male norms and behaviors to increase male partner involvement in preventing HIV transmission. In addition community mobilization activities will focus on the reduction of stigma and discrimination by increasing knowledge around HIV and running community activities that focus on stigma reduction.

Activity 3: Implement HIV prevention activities for learners

As part of their OVC program, SADTU will integrate HIV prevention messages building on the existing school life skills program. The focus of these messages will be on AB. These messages will be carried out by both youth peer educators and teachers.

These activities contribute to the PEPFAR 2-7-10 goals and objectives by increasing knowledge of HIV transmission and the prevention of new infections. The union leaders training activities encourage the PEPFAR goal of encouraging bold leadership at every level to fight HIV&AIDS.

Summary: The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) project aims to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS by focusing on preventing transmission of HIV for teachers. This includes both a comprehensive ABC prevention program through peer education but also improve condom distribution at SADTU regional and branch offices.

BACKGROUND:

The HIV and AIDS pandemic has created workplace environments that are not conductive to quality teaching and learning for both educators and learners alike. The school as a workplace is plagued by high levels of stigma. This often results in educators suffering silently and becoming victims of the pandemic despite high perceptions of knowledge of HIV and AIDS. As a result many educators do not have the courage and support in the workplace to go for voluntary counseling and testing, since knowing your status is not publicly encouraged. Consequently most educators discover they are HIV positive when they start showing symptomatic illnesses that do not respond to medications. By this time their CD4 counts are usually low and they can no longer function optimally at their schools with compromised health. The SADTU project aims to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS by focusing on preventing transmission of HIV for teachers and caring for orphans and vulnerable children in the workplace. The target group for these activities is teachers, as well as primary and secondary school learners. The emphasis areas for this project include community participation, linkages with other sectors and local organization capacity building,

ACTIVITIES and EXPECTED RESULTS:

Activity 1: Condom distribution

The SADTU workplace project will distribute male and female condoms at 500 branch offices, since this is where most teachers go to on a regular basis. In addition as functioning as condom distribution points, each of the sites will provide educational materials on HIV prevention including correct and consistent condom usage. The sites are easily accessible and are frequently visited by teachers. IEC materials on correct and consistent condom usage will be available in all relevant languages. SADTU will work with relevant government departments to obtain free condoms.

Activity 2: Community Involvement

SADTU will work with trained peer educators to increase community involvement, and increase male involvement and awareness around HIV prevention, PMTCT, the role of male norms and behaviors in HIV transmission. Community peer education support groups for educators and their families/partners will be formed, including gender unique groups. In addition, through community involvement activities, SADTU will ensure the distribution of IEC materials to educators and communities.

The targets for the number of people reached through the comprehensive peer education program are counted under AB.

This project contributes to PEPFAR 2-7-10 goals and objectives by ensuring access to male and female condoms hence preventing new HIV infections.

Targets

Target Target Value Not Applicable Indirect number of community outreach HIV/AIDS prevention
programs that are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect number of mass media HIV/AIDS prevention programs that
are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect number of individuals reached with community outreach
HIV/AIDS prevention programs that are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect estimated number of individuals reached with mass media
HIV/AIDS prevention programs that are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect number of individuals trained to provide HIV/AIDS
prevention programs that are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect number of targeted condom service outlets 500  Number of targeted condom service outlets
Number of individuals reached through community outreach that 20,000  promotes HIV/AIDS prevention through other behavior change beyond abstinence and/or being faithful Number of individuals trained to promote HIV/AIDS prevention 236  through other behavior change beyond abstinence and/or being faithful

Target Populations: Teachers Primary school students Secondary school students

Coverage Areas Eastern Cape

KwaZulu-Natal

Mpumalanga

Table 3.3.05:

SUMMARY:

South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) workplace program aims to provide support to 50 eligible orphans and vulnerable children per school, in two schools per region of the 18 SADTU regions in the three provinces; KwaZulu Natal (KZN), Eastern Cape (EC) and Mpumalanga (MP).

BACKGROUND:

The HIV and AIDS pandemic has created workplace environments that are not conductive to quality teaching and learning for both educators and learners alike. In many schools teachers find themselves looking after OVC out of their own personal resources. The SADTU project aims to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS by focusing on preventing transmission of HIV for teachers and caring for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the workplace. Target population for this activity are orphans and vulnerable children identified by teachers in each of the targeted schools, and caregivers of OVCs. In this project, the school is the workplace. The emphasis area for this workplace intervention is the development of networks, linkages and referrals, community mobilization, information, education and communication and local organization capacity building. Addressing stigma and discrimination is a vital component of all activities for OVCs in this project.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

Activity 1: Establish school-based care and support for OVCs

In collaboration wit the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Education, SADTU will work with schools to identify OVC, see that they are registered (births and/or identity documents) and establish school-based care and support centers to support these children. School-based interventions will be established in two schools in each of the six regions with FY 2007 funds. SADTU will ensure that OVC are registered with the Department of Social Development. (DSD). SADTU will work with each school to identify and prioritize the needs of OVC. This could include, but is not limited to, supplying them with school uniforms, community gardens, and ensuring OVC have access to social services through the DSD. They will also build upon existing life skills programs to ensure that HIV prevention messages are integrated into the OVC program.

These activities contribute to the PEPFAR 2-7-10 goals and objectives by ensuring that OVCs are identified within schools and services are provided to them.

SUMMARY:

South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) will expand counseling and testing services for teachers in three provinces and refer them for care and treatments services.

BACKGROUND:

The HIV and AIDS pandemic has created workplace environments that are not conductive to quality teaching and learning for both educators and learners alike. The school as a workplace is plagued by high levels of stigma. This often results in educators suffering silently and becoming victims of the pandemic despite high perceptions of knowledge of HIV and AIDS. As a result many educators do not have the courage and support in the workplace to go for voluntary counseling and testing, since knowing your status is not publicly encouraged. Consequently most educators discover they are HIV positive when they start showing symptomatic illnesses that do not respond to medications. By this time their CD4 counts are usually low and they can no longer function optimally at their schools with compromised health. The SADTU project aims to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS by focusing on preventing transmission of HIV for teachers and caring for orphans and vulnerable children in the workplace. The SADTU will implement routine access to VCT services in its events making it possible for union members to participate in VCT without having to go to clinics or health centers. Partnerships are already in place with local public clinics and mobile clinics. Any union member testing positive will be referred to the partner health facility for treatment, care ad support services. At each of the health facilities the SADTU project will support 1 additional community health workers trained in local languages to assist in fast tracking union members who have been identified as HIV positive at union events. Target population for this activity is teachers. This is a workplace intervention, with an emphasis area in human resource development and developing linkages, networks and referrals .

ACTIVITITES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

Activity 1: Training of community health workers (lay counselors)

18 community health care workers will be trained as lay counselors for VCT. They will be placed at partner clinics in each of the three provinces. They will also offer VCT at union events and those who test positive will be referred to treatment, care and support services at the referral clinics. They will also avail provide VCT services to the two schools with OVC programs in their region.

Activity 2: Workplace counseling and testing

At any SADTU event taking place, union members will have the opportunity to access VCT from mobile clinic services provided by the local health site. VCT will be conducted using the national protocol for testing. Community health care workers will be trained to conduct VCT, and make appropriate referrals to treatment, care and support services. In order to ensure that referrals are made, SADTU has established partnerships with health facilities in each of the districts/regions where SADTU activities will take place.

Activity 3: AIDS Ambassadors

The SADTU project subscribes to the "greater involvement of people with AIDS" principle (GIPA). As a result the project supports people living with HIV to engage in project planning of union events and the participation in HIV testing campaigns. The testimonies and motivational speeches of the AIDS Ambassadors have a great impact on members at union events, including on workshops aimed at encouraging union members to participate in VCT. The GIPA principle also reduces levels of stigma amongst union members and increases acceptance of people living with the HIVirus.

The SADTU project contributes to the PEPFAR 2-7-10 goals and objectives by encouraging educators and union members to participate in VCT activities being conducted at union events. This ensures that more union members are aware of their HIV status early, and can be referred to treatment, care and support services timely.

SUMMARY:

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) workplace program aims to work with provincial, regional and branch structures in three provinces to strengthen HIV prevention and increase access to care and treatment for teachers and learners.

BACKGROUND:

The HIV and AIDS pandemic has created workplace environments that are not conductive to quality teaching and learning for both educators and learners alike. The school as a workplace is plagued by high levels of stigma. This often results in educators suffering silently and becoming victims of the pandemic despite high perceptions of knowledge of HIV and AIDS. As a result many educators do not have the courage and support in the workplace to go for voluntary counseling and testing, since knowing your status is not publicly encouraged. Consequently most educators discover they are HIV positive when they start showing symptomatic illnesses that do not respond to medications. By this time their CD4 counts are usually low and they can no longer function optimally at their schools with compromised health. The SADTU project aims to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS by focusing on preventing transmission of HIV for teachers and caring for orphans and vulnerable children in the workplace. SADTU has existing national and provincial partnerships with the Department of Education and was a member of the team that developed the National Strategic plan with the Department of Health. SADTU has also established relationships with other HIV and AIDS organizations around the country. This will ensure sustainability of program after PEPFAR funding. The target population for these activities are teachers, and primary and secondary school learners who they are in contact with. The emphasis areas of this workplace activity includes the development of policies and guidelines, local organization capacity building, and information, education and communication. Addressing stigma and discrimination and gender are key components of these activities. Gender will be addressed through the intergration of gender into the development of the HIV and AIDS SADTU policies. In addition, addressing male norms and behaviours wil be addressed in the capacity building and mentorship program.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Strengthening Policy Development and Implementation

Technical support, training and financial support will be provided to strengthen the capacity of the trade union movement to participate in the development of public policies and policies within the union structures and at the workplace, in this case, within schools. Technical support and training will be provided via workshops on ways senior management, employers, senior union leadership and workers can mainstream HIV and AIDS issues into routine workplace activities. Support will also be provided to develop workplace policies and strategies on HIV and AIDS.

ACTIVITY 2: Capacity Building and Mentorship Program

PEPFAR funds will be used to train and establish a mentorship program for a large number of peer educators, within the union. These peer educators will be provided with technical assistance to conduct HIV and AIDS prevention education programs for employers, senior management, union members, senior union leadership and for workers. Peer educators will be responsible for the following key HIV and AIDS prevention efforts: 1) develop strategies to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS, sexual transmitted infection and tuberculosis among union members; 2) increase the involvement of unions in the development, implementation and monitoring of HIV and AIDS workplace policies and programs.; 3) increase the involvement of men in HIV prevention efforts (male norms and behaviors, key legislative issue) and in efforts to combat violence against women (reducing violence and coercion, key legislative issue); and 4) develop strategies to reduce stigma and discrimination (key legislative issues) against HIV-infected members in the workplace; and finally, 5) develop strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and the adoption of risk reduction behaviors among union members.

Providing effective prevention messages and leadership education to employer

associations, business, worker representatives and union members in a cross-section of South African industry will contribute to PEPFAR's goal of preventing 7 million new infections. The activities described here will also support the prevention objectives identified in the USG Five-Year Strategy for South Africa.