Young girls in the Vingunguti ward of Dar es Salaam engage in transactional sex due to poverty, putting them at high risk of HIV infection. Youth living with HIV also face stigma through labels like "walking dead body". Girls as young as 13 are already mothers, limiting their education. A youth theatre group conducts discussions on sexual health, life skills, and peer education to address discrimination, lack of information, and unemployment. Their performances and discussions aim to promote communication, community support, and healthy behaviors. Recommendations include expanding education on sexual health, gender issues, and entrepreneurship skills while also providing livelihood opportunities and healthcare services.

1. DISCRIMINATION AND HIV/AIDS INFECTIONS IN
YOUTH CAMPS DAR ES SALAAM
Presented by
ROBERT BERNARD NGONGI
ST. CAMILLIUS YOUTH THEATRE GROUP
DAR ES SALAAM - TANZANIA

2. BACKGROUND
• Vingunguti is a ward within Ilala municipality in Dar es salaam City-
Tanzania, where most people are poor
• The also have low level of education
• Young girls engage in transactional sex in order to get money to meet
their needs and of their families.
• Many young girls under the age of 15 are sexually abused by youth
from the camps ,this put then at more risk of HIV Infections and other
Reproductive Health Problems.
• Youth who are PLWHA are Stigmatized by being labeling with
different names such as the walking dead body or danger, prostitute etc
(,anamiwaya, imeriact, kimeo, fataki)
• They are being isolated from youth camps and as well as football
teams.
.

3. BACKGROUND (cont.)
• Many girls aged 13-17 are already mothers. Early motherhood not
only expose them to delivery complications but also prohibit them
from finishing school.
• This group of young girls are labeled with different names as
prostitutes, easy girls, Naught girls, hopeless girls ,sex dwellers
• Because of stigma and discrimination, Youth living with HIV fear to
disclose their status and sometimes revenges by spreading the
infections to others eg by raping girls during the camps launch, group
sex etc
• Some parents hide their children not to be seen by others if they are
infected due to fear of stigma hence they miss important health and
social services

4. WHY DO YOUTH
DISCRIMINATE OTHERS
Lack of correct health information;
Leading to fear PLWHA
Lack of awareness about the effects of
stigma and discrimination. They don’t
know if stigma and discrimination have
negative impact to PLWHA and their
community in general

5. . Unemployment: this is due to the large number
of boys hanging around areas on their streets
without any job to do therefore that’s why they
practice in rapping girls.
Lack of Communication: Both between parents
and youth especially regarding issues of
reproductive health, risk sexual behaviors living
positively with HIV and services and rights
available for PLHWA
Lack of Life Skills: Most girls are not assertive
enough, even when they are raped, they don’t tell
their parents and seek care. men are affected by
peer pressure( rape, drug abuse and group sex)
(Cont.)

6. The role of St. Camillus Youth
Theatre Group
• Conducts focus group discussion with young boys
and girls about risk sexual behaviours and stigma
• Provided life skills trainings to young boys and
girls
• Involve young boys and girls in peer education
activities
• Conduct outreach activities through interactive
theatre focus on gender based violence target
young boys and girls

7. Theatre performance

8. Group Discussions

9. Group Discussions

10. LESSON LEARNT
• Promoting communication between parents
and children is an effective way to support
healthy behavior
• Livelihood projects are needed in order to
support youth life goals
• Involvement of vulnerable groups is
essential component in programming
• Promoting community support and fighting
stigma on those who are already infected
with HIV

11. RECOMMENDATIONS
• Apart from the efforts done, more support is
required to enable them in the provision of
education based on Sexual Reproductive
Health, HIV AIDS prevention, gender base
issues and entrepreneurship skills.
• Programmes should comprehensively
address negative gender norms of both men
and women by giving them knowledge, skills
and motivation to be gender equitable
• Programmes should holistically address
issues of livelihood and availability of health
services to create a supportive environment

12. Thank you very much
Asante Sana