Press and Comments

From The New Times, June 14-15, 2004:

“Last week I was privileged to be part of a small invited audience who saw a preview of [Kunda Ubuzima]. We witnessed the shaping of what will be a very fine piece of drama. I dare say one of the best I have seen in Rwanda. … I am amazed at the mature talent of these young people. Their youth and the dynamism of them and Jesse Hawkes has produced a work which must be seen by the widest audience possible.” – Stephen Buckingham



Letter to New Times, Augusts 25-26, 2004: “Take Anti-AIDS Campaign to Teachers”

“I witnessed the program ‘putting a face on aids’ of Rwandans and Americans in Partnership (RAP) helping U-turn Anti-SIDA Club of APRED-Ndera students presenting a musical play about HIV/AIDS to students of Kigali Institute of Education and the student teachers were very excited meaning that they need more of these clubs.”
--Teacher Trainee, KIE



After RAP World AIDS Day 2005 Presentation, Nyagatare Umutara:

“The emotions I saw here today are reaching people. We need you to do it more and spread it to as many people as possible.”
--George Kabayiza



Evaluation from Club Inyange (comprised of Primary School Youth), East Province:

What did you learn about theatre from RAP’s Training?

Inyange: We learned how to create stories and put them into good plays. We learned new techniques such as Musical and Forum Theatre. We learned how to put these techniques (including comedies) into the play so that we can make the audience more interested in the plays.

What did you learn about preventing HIV from RAP?

Inyange: We learned about working together, forming associations and clubs, that people who have HIV should not try to spread the disease, that people should go for HIV tests in order to know their status. We learned that you need to sensitize young people who are not infected to abstain from sex. We learned that we need to remember our relatives and community members who have died of HIV. We learned that we should not discriminate against people who have HIV.

How are you going to use what you have learned in the future?

Inyange: We are going to sensitize other youth with our plays, and make a schedule/program for doing so. We are going to provide advice to both young and older people.

What was the best, or most important, part of this training?

Inyange: The leader training seminar (with RAP presentation and candlelight ceremony) was the most important part for the leaders of our club.

What advice do you have for RAP?

Inyange: Keep going and provide these trainings to others. We thought there was nothing wrong with the trainings. Nothing to criticize. We want RAP to tell the other groups not to forget what they learned.


In addition, Club Inyange sent a letter to RAP which included the following:

“We know that we did not achieve the top prizes (we only got 4th place) but we are happy because we now know what we did wrong [because of the RAP evaluations/response] and we know how we can improve in the future. It is too difficult to explain how much you have helped us. There are too many details to what you taught us. Even though we are young people, we want you to accept our thanks. We miss you so much. We want to know if there is going to be another competition. This time we know that you will be so impressed with our skills that you will actually be afraid of us! We love you! Very Good. Very good. Very good. Very good.”


Letter from Justin White

July 22, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

On June 2, 2006, I spent one afternoon observing the incredibly impressive work being “performed” by RAPSIDA. I would like to share some of my impressions from that experience, which I hope will convey the unmistakable impact that RAPSIDA is having in Rwanda, helping to overcome the stigma attached to having HIV/AIDS. I knew little about the organization before I was whisked off to watch a student performance organized by RAPSIDA, but by the end of the day I had a newfound appreciation for the influence that this community-based organizations was having on the attitudes and behavior of community members, young and old.

Upon arrival at the school, several people from the local AIDS association were waiting. They had prepared a hearty meal for some of the student performers, purchased by RAPSIDA. Students and association members sat next to each other and shared food and conversation. In between bites, we talked about a lot of important issues. Each week one of the students at the school is nominated to wear a special badge of hope, a large AIDS ribbon, as a sort of ambassador of his student organization that aims to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS. The recipient from that week described his experience with peer education. He admitted that he couldn’t answer every question posed to him, but he knew where to refer them. It was powerful to hear how earnestly he took his responsibility.

The students also talked about their impressions from visiting a couple of the association members in preparation for writing the play. Thus, they had caught a glimpse, first-hand, of the stigma felt by PLWA and had understood its impact on real people with real emotions.

Following the meal, we moved toward an outdoor area where children had already begun gathering in anticipation of the play. By the end, at least 150 students of all ages were staring intently at the performers.

The script, written by the students, and the acting brought to life the story of a man afraid to reveal his HIV-positive status to family or friends because of the wrath he feared incurring from his community. When he died, his two children were orphaned and sent to live with their evil aunt, who treated them like second-class citizens. This depiction, though it sounds sensational, like a plotline straight out of the Cinderella fairy tale, is a serious concern in a country that is home to an estimated 1 million orphans, 43 percent of whom lost one or both parents to AIDS, according to UNICEF. Thus, the play’s message undoubtedly struck a cord with the captive audience. Despite the serious nature of the material, the performers deftly wove jokes into the story and kept the audience roaring with laughter.

The end of the play left the conflict unresolved. Instead, it posed a question to members of the audience, using a sort of Socratic method. How would they deal with the main antagonist, the aunt, if they were the orphaned children? Students went on stage and made their best case to the aunt. The participatory approach provided entertainment but also audience ownership of the message. Other games followed. Volunteers from the student body tested their knowledge about HIV/AIDS stigma and prevention. All volunteers were given a gift of soap made by members of the AIDS association. In addition, everyone in the audience was given a package of cookies made by association members. This is a powerful strategy to deter stigma. People must actively decide that they will accept—and ingest—something produced by a person living with AIDS. They must confront the personal prejudices they hold and overcome them. Needless to say, all of the cookies were gone within 10 minutes. Stigma was overcome that day one cookie at a time. Thus, RAPSIDA was fighting stigma on multiple levels, through the mind and through the belly.

One highlight from the day was the passionate speech given by Daniel, who is infected with AIDS and was one of the people visited by the actors prior to the play’s development. He was deeply touched by the performance and extremely grateful for the chance to participate in such an important venture. In turn, the audience received him warmly and respectfully. I couldn’t help but be inspired by the strength Daniel displayed to stand before the crowd, emotions bare for all to see. His strength embodied the empowering effect that RAPSIDA had instilled in association members. Daniel and his fellow members stood proud. They had jobs, thanks to RAPSIDA. RAPSIDA had helped to give them back their dignity.

Finally, it was my turn to speak. Both of the guests, myself included, were brought on stage and introduced to the crowd. A surge of emotion overwhelmed me as I considered how much had been accomplished in the course of a couple hours. As a public health student, I knew the causes of AIDS. I knew the barriers to treatment. I knew the devastating effect that AIDS has had on communities in Africa. But I didn’t know that one dedicated group of individuals, students no less, could make such a difference in such little time. Suddenly, an American standing in front of nearly 200 Rwandan children, I was speechless. I thanked them for the hope they had given me that a brighter future was closer than I’d thought. RAPSIDA has provided a way forward.


Sincerely,


Justin S. White
Candidate for MS in Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill
Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Twubakane Decentralization & Health Program
IntraHealth International
Kigali, Rwanda



Letter from Laura Clauson

In February 2006, Ro Wyman and I had the opportunity to see a RAPSIDA play in the first round of the Secondary School HIV-Prevention and Destigmatization League competition.

Ro was in Rwanda on a fact finding trip for a health clinic initiative and, although time was limited, we made a special effort to squeeze in time for a RAPSIDA play. I had been to one several months before and wanted to share the experience of watching such impressive students.

We raced out of town as fast as we could so we wouldn’t be late for the pre-play luncheon. When we reached the sugar factory, we turned left and went up and up and up along a series of switch backs and wondered if the taxi was going to make it. Perched at the top of the hill was Alliance High School. Students were milling about dressed in crisp white shirts and there was a feeling of anticipation in the air.

The local PLWHA group arrived with numerous tasty dishes and we ate with selected students, school officials and PLWHA group members. Ro and I sat next to Anita, the spokesperson for Alliance’s anti-SIDA play. She told us about her particular family situation, tragic like so many, and then she beamed as she told us about the play and her determination to win. Anita loved to write poems and sing and when she joined RAPSIDA it gave her a creative outlet for these gifts. We were excited to see her in action.

The Director of the school gave us a brief tour and talked about the problems he faces and his hopes for the future and then we were seated along with hundreds of students eagerly waiting for the play to start. Ro and I were each assigned a student translator which proved mostly unnecessary as the acting is so expressive that it is easy to understand what is going on without comprehending a word.

As I sat watching the play, I thought back to a conversation I had with a young Rwandan man. While walking together, we passed several anti-SIDA posters. They all illustrated a version of a man and woman in bed with empty alcohol bottles strewn around and a warning message against this kind of behavior. I commented that these seemed to be effective pictures. He responded that he thought they were strange. The posters are aiming their message at him, a young Rwandan, but they depict ‘old’ people. He doesn’t identify with the image. I had not noticed it before, but he was right. While sitting high up on a hill watching a play written by students and for students in order to transmit the true facts about HIV/Aids, I was struck more deeply by the impact of RAPSIDA’s work. It is empowering young Rwandans to look for creative ways to protect the promise and enthusiasm of the generation represented in the audience that day.


Laura Clauson
Director, CCHIPS Field Operations
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International www.gorillafund.org &
Wyman Worldwide Health Partners LLC www.wwhps.org




“I want to thank the partners here in Nyagatare for creating this play. The play has illustrated how the motorcyclists can protect themselves and others, and has basically said what I was going to say here in my speech!”

Andre Semukanya, Deputy Director, the Rwandan National AIDS Commission (CNLS), speaking after RAPSIDA’s 15 minute HIV Prevention play
at a ceremony for over 400 motorcycle taxi drivers in Nyagatare
August 9, 2006



“Yes, talking about all of this is so important because if we had been talking about it 10 years ago, we would not be HIV+ today.”

Egidia, a person living with HIV/AIDS in Nyagatare,
during a RAPSIDA Peer Education Session, June 2006