Background

The Schools Health And Population Education (SHAPE) is a non-profit and Non-Governmental Organisation that provides HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention education within the education sector.

Ministry of EducationThe SHAPE programme was began in 1991 with the purpose of educating young people within the education system on HIV and AIDS, STIs, Sexual Reproductive Health and population issues. The programme was started as a pilot project following the identification of HIV positive blood in 1990, in one school, where eleven out of thirty samples of blood tested positive to HIV.

In the long term some HIV/AIDSactivities of SHAPE will be absorbed within the education sector, once the technical and institutional capacity of the Ministry of Education is consolidated for this function.

Geographical location of activities

All primary, secondary and high schools in Swaziland, as well as tertiary institutions.

Objectives

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (JCPES)
  1. To empower the youth with information on HIV and AIDS, Sexual Reproduction as well as life skills thus achieving responsible sexual behaviour.
  2. To create an enabling environment for the introduction of reproductive health issues within the schools system.
  3. To produce IEC material on Sexual reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS.
  4. To conduct research and have a base for future programming of activities.
  5. To effectively manage, monitor and evaluate the programme.

Activities / Achievements

  • Training of teachers (pre-service and in-service), college tutors and peers on Sexual Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS.
  • Production of IEC materials on Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS.
    SHAPE has produced:
    • a training manual for teachers on sexuality communication for HIV/AIDS prevention
    • a manual on how to form and sustain Health Clubs
    • age specific fact sheets on HIV and AIDS
    • the Swaziland Choose Life Booklet adaptation, done in partnership with Soul City, a South Africa based NGO
  • Formation of Health clubs formally known as anti-AIDS clubs.
  • Conducting education sessions in schools, churches and community center.
  • Creating an enabling environment for the adolescent health programme working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH&SW).
  • Formation of national and Schools HIV/AIDS crisis Communication Strategies.
  • Conducted research to generate baseline information to guide HIV/AIDS policy development with education sector as well as guide programmes for HIV/AIDS prevention among the youth.
  • Training manual on Youth Sexual Reproductive Health and Counseling.
  • Bruchures.
  • Newsletter.

Current and future plans

Bristol-0Myers Squibb FoundationSHAPE is implementing the Schools HIV /AIDS Crisis Communication Strategy in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) and in partnership with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (JCPES), an America based NGO with an office in South Africa. SHAPE will also be implementing a health development and communication programme within the next five years with Soul City. Donors for this programme are Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and the Department for International Development and Dutch Government, respectively.

Donors

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
  • Department of International Development (DFID)
  • European Union
  • Ireland AID

Membership

SHAPE would benefit a lot from your assistance and support. You can provide this by being a member of SHAPE.

Membership is open to:

  • Any Swazi resident of 18 years and above
  • Any local public institution
  • Any adult who prefers to contribute donations to SHAPE from time to time instead of paying an annual membership fee.
   

The annual membership fee is E20.00

For more information on how to join SHAPE please contact the office at (+268) 4045066/ 4045752 or write to the Director