Given the devastating prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Cameroon, United Action for Children is committed to bringing education and awareness to the community. The primary goal of the HIV/AIDS sensitization programme is to increase the average person’s knowledge of the topic, thereby spreading awareness. It is UAC’s belief that those who know about HIV/AIDS are enabled to inform others about it as well. Part of the educating process involves correcting common misconceptions about HIV/AIDS as well as making sure that all presented information is up-to-date and accurate. It is UAC’s belief that the community as a whole and individuals alone may make informed decisions once they have acquired extensive knowledge about the topic.

The sensitization program aims to:

• Encourage individuals to think about sex and to assess the risks of any type of sexual activity;
• Teach individuals how to reduce the risk of infection by promoting the ABC’s of prevention: Abstinence or delaying sexual activity, Being faithful to one partner who has been tested, and condom use as a form of contraception and STD protection when used properly;
• Give individuals the confidence and tools to be able to negotiate about sex with a partner;
• Explain where to go to get testing, diagnosis, and counselling for HIV/AIDS and encouraging one to do so;
• Help individuals understand the implications of being HIV infected any why it is necessary to stay as healthy as possible to avoid transmission of the virus;
• Give caregivers information on how to care for HIV/AIDS patients, and inform community members about the importance of showing infected individuals the same respect.

To achieve these aims, UAC staff and volunteers employed an adaptable presentation to accommodate its use in local schools, churches, and the villages surrounding Buea. In 2005-2006, as UAC continued its HIV/AIDS presentations, it noticed a significant drop in attendance and overall lack of interest. Discussions with local community members showed that people were unwilling to attend presentations because they could not afford to lose the day’s work. UAC’s staff and volunteers realized that in order to continue with its HIV/AIDS Sensitization Programme it would first have to address the population’s first priority, the alleviation of poverty. In response to this concern,LivelihoodProject. UAC held meetings with several neighbouring villages that were suffering from poverty and decided to create a new programme strategy called the

In order to maintain constant activity in the HIV/AIDS sensitization programme, United Action for Children has incorporated the theme into several of its programmes, among which are its Youth Club and summer holiday activities, in the Vocational Training programme and in special sports projects.

The Playstreets Programme

In an effort to reach even more youth, UAC volunteers created the Playstreets Programme in August 2005. UAC staff and volunteers travelled to different villages and organized football matches for the local population. During half-time, information about HIV/AIDS was passed on to the participants. After the match, the football was donated to the village as a reminder of both the game, and the important message carried by the HIV/AIDS team. UAC is a proud member of the World Street Football Organisation.

In 2007, UAC Playstreets was changed into the Community Sports for Development Project [webnote: link to Community Sports for Development please] as it adopted a wider approach that not only aims at addressing the issues of HIV/AIDS, but also incorporates other social issues such as the wish of the youths to leave the villages, disability, albinism and general health care.