Youth Fight AIDS in Madagascar

USAID funded program is transforming Malagasy youth into leaders in the fight against AIDS

	Malagasy Youth are participating in a USAID funded program where they are involved in community outreach to help fight against HIV. Similar to the "scout" system in the US, the youth groups are required to participate in certain activities before reaching "Ankoay" (eagle) status. Photo Credit: Santénet

Madagascar has been less affected by HIV/AIDS than many of its neighbors, but recent data suggests the epidemic could spread and the Malagasy youth are at particular risk. In a 2003 HIV survey among girls under 15, 1.64 percent were found to be HIV-positive. Multiple sexual partners among youth is com-mon with 72 percent of young people 15-24 in one mining re-gion reporting to have more than two partners in 12 months.

In cooperation with the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, USAID is funding an initiative to curb this trend. Known as the Ankoay or eagle initiative, the program educates youth about HIV/AIDS, and teaches them how to become community leaders in HIV/AIDS prevention by promoting behaviors such as abstinence. To encourage participation among young people, the initiative has groups compete as teams to earn the distinc-tion of Ankoay status. The teams are required to complete a series of life skill exercises, a peer education program, and community outreach activities.

The Ankoay initiative incorporates a diverse mix of educational methods, which speak to a variety of learning styles and per-sonality types. To successfully complete the program, youth groups work through twenty highly participatory activities, de-veloping skills such as decision-making, goal-setting, and effec-tive communication. One of these activities is designed to promote individual reflection - the "Youth Passport" includes a role play kit containing scenarios of typical situations youth en-counter. As youth act out the dramas included in the booklet, they connect emotionally to vital issues in a safe environment. Once a youth group reaches Ankoay status, it assumes a role of community leadership in the fight against AIDS and cele-brates its success with a festival. Media broadcast the news around the country, generating enthusiasm for the program.

The program was designed for youth between the ages of 15 and 18. Originally launched in 2005 through the federation of Malagasy scout troops, the program has expanded to include other youth groups, sports teams, and schools. The Ankoay project is now considered a HIV youth prevention model by Madagascar's National AIDS Committee.