[procaare] New Ideas...

["Taji Liundi" <tgliundi@yahoo.com>]

New Ideas...
- Taji Liundi, Tanzania
************

Hello All, 
   
[*Mod: this Is Taji's follow-up to the discussion "Re: HIV Testing
Before Marriage"]
 
Moderator permitting, I advance the discussion further.
   
So, what do we do when we have new ideas?
   
Well, before I get into that, the first thing that comes to mind is my
experience at John Hopkins University during a workshop I had the
opportunity to attend in 2001. 
   
We were all requested to present and put up displays of interventions
programs/activities in our countries. I noticed that my ISHI-BCC
Campaign, the Zambian, Nigerian, Indian, Jamaican etc presentations were
all supported financially by the US.
   
We also had the opportunity to review communications material. I was
especially critical of one: The Sarah comic strip series used by UNICEF
here in Tanzania some years back, perhaps in your country too. I simply
said; a monkey is not a pet in many African households, even in the
rural areas. It is absolutely NOT a pet that a girl would ever want!
   
My point was, the comic had a flaw in defining local context, the monkey
could speak too!  I was a unique African kid who grew up watching a
rabbit and mouse speak (Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse), but in African
folklore, the stories qualify the ability as being supernatural,
therefore, the slight flaw may contribute immensely to miscommunication
or ridiculing the intended education.
   
To get to the point, if we want to make ideas work, they should reflect
local context. That is tradition, practise and language. It will make it
easy for the "people" to grasp.

The problem is Africa is not coming up with urgent local solutions.
   
I do not mean, but maybe I do suggest to reinstitute the tribal
initiation rites (modernized), but let's translate ABSTINENCE &
FAITHFULNESS into our vernacular, into our context and way of life. How
close is it to the present reality in both the rural and urban settings
for our youth?  Have we seriously reassessed the YOUTH/ADULTS relations
in our modern societies?
   
There are many obvious questions, very obvious lack of regard or
attention to addressing our OWN issues with any seriousness, I feel
there is very obvious hypocrisy and that makes me wonder if it is
intentional so that some could benefit from the external "concern". We
end up confusing our generations!
   
Very disturbing. 
   
Let's come up with a competition for the most locally appropriate
intervention, sponsored by....?


[*Mod note: We welcome Taji's ideas, and encourage forum members to take
them further and find ways to actualise them. One proposal/suggestion we
have: to create a repository on our website www.procaare.org of
innovative locally appropriate interventions from ProCAARE members. This
can then serve as a resource for members in designing and developing
projects, and in making linkages. If members are interested in this, let
us know - so we can set it up.]

Taji  
  
Taji George Liundi
Commissioner, TACAIDS
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Email: tgliundi@yahoo.com