Success Stories
Prevention Messages Around a Pool Table
“Woza, Friday!” (Come, Friday!), the end-of-week cheer captures the mood in many black South African townships on a Friday afternoon. An air of anticipation charges the community of Ekuphumleni as taxis ferry workers and family home. Children wait for their parents to return from work, pupils look forward to enjoying a two-day break, young people have mapped out events that promise to be entertaining, and tsotsis (rogues) explore the prospects of striking it big.
Many men gather at taverns to unwind after a long week of labor. There are plans to drink the night away, entertaining women who often are expected to show their appreciation by having sex with them, usually without protection. As in many other South African communities, Ekuphumleni registers high rates of assault, rape, and gender-based violence. Taverns are central to these crises, fuelled by excessive alcohol abuse.
Africare, a PEPFAR-funded partner, decided to step up their prevention efforts. They engaged the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in an initiative to work with taverns. “We wanted to reach out to people visiting the taverns because they are at high risk, and usually do not attend community gatherings where information about HIV and AIDS is provided”, explains Mziwozuko Fuma, an Africare community advocate supervisor. Tavern owners, two regular tavern patrons, and CPF members participated in four-day workshops to learn more about HIV and gender issues. The patrons were trained as peer educators, to share information about HIV, sexually transmitted infections STIs and gender-based violence among other tavern patrons.
A. M., one of Billy Tavern’s patrons, said the training opened his eyes to the importance of abstaining, being faithful, and practicing safer sex. He improved his communications skills, too. “I learned that you should not force your message on people. If the person you are talking to is not interested, politely end the conversation and wait for a better time to speak to them again.”
B.F., a CPF member recalls the last day of training. “We decided that pool tournaments would gather people, giving us a chance to share information on HIV and AIDS and on gender-based violence”. The casual atmosphere and several hours for each event would provide opportunities to talk through issues.
In August 2007, the first pool tournament was launched. Eighteen clubs from surrounding villages participated over three weekends. An HIV-related topic was selected for each match. The peer educator was present to convey HIV preventative messages before the start of each game. “A player would, for instance, use three minutes to encourage patrons against domestic violence. We help them realize that it is those at the taverns who do not think of using condoms, especially because by the time they indulge in sexual activities they often are too drunk to think of taking precautionary measures who are the ones spreading the virus”, adds A.M. Educational materials and condoms were freely available at the tournaments.
Tavern owner Mandisi D., hails the project an unmitigated success, saying that “Those already infected by the disease are no longer scorned by society, because Africare has taught us how to relate to them”. Patrons have become aware of gender violence, often urging fellow patrons to think about the consequences of having casual sex. The SAPS is on hand to intervene when necessary. According to Mandisi D., young people are now cautious, and no longer reluctant to ask the bartender for condoms. “We keep a register of the condoms issued, and judging by the number, the campaigns have been successful.