HIV and AIDS

The primary vision of Drama for Life (DFL) is to develop capacity in HIV and AIDS education.

Wits University, DFL’s parent institution, has made a vocal and pragmatic stand in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The University currently sponsors a comprehensive HIV and AIDS education and counselling programme, which incorporates an integrated approach based on reality therapy. Wits is actively working with Drama for Life to build appropriate HIV and AIDS interventions in higher education.

DFL’s objectives are focused on achieving this primary vision. They are as follows:

• Promotion of personal and interpersonal learning in order to bring about positive behavioural change among youth in Africa. DFL not only provides a much-needed critique of the message-driven HIV and AIDS education campaigns of the last 25 years, but also seeks to equip educators with contemporary pedagogical approaches that are effective tools for positive behavioural change. Applied drama and theatre integrates dramatic, educational, psychological and social processes to ensure holistic learning that pays attention to social realities and respects indigenous knowledges;
• Empowerment and qualification of teachers and performers to facilitate such learning processes, and the education of future researchers and academics who can enhance HIV and AIDS education through other African universities. Twenty-eight full scholarships at postgraduate level were offered to candidates from the entire SADC region in 2008. We aim to offer 30 scholarships to African candidates in 2009 and 2010;
• Enhancement of capacities in arts education management and administration, throughout Africa. DFL seeks to provide the training necessary for applied drama and theatre programmes to be effectively managed and sustained;
• Research and documentation of the role and efficacy of applied drama and theatre processes in HIV and AIDS education and counselling throughout Africa. DFL is committed to groundbreaking research that reflects on the practice of applied drama and theatre in HIV and AIDS education in the last quarter-century, and that explores the efficacy of different processes. DFL seeks to present conferences and to publish;
• Creation of a framework for integrating applied drama and theatre practice and studies: 1. in formal education (curricula at primary, secondary and tertiary levels; teachers’ training; healthcare worker education; performer and theatre-making training) 2. in non-formal education (training modules for theatre companies, groups and NGOs committed to HIV and AIDS education);
• And providing support to existing organisational networks and systems in the education, drama and theatre and HIV and AIDS sectors.

To read more about the role drama and theatre can play in HIV and AIDS education, download this pdf document on the topic.