CHILDREN TO THE FORE! - SAfAIDS

Further Notes for the Trainer…1. Know enough about the level and scale of HIV and AIDS in your country. A solidbackground on the HIV situation in your country and the region is important. Section 1provides information on this, but in relation to children, their rights and culturespecifically in Zimbabwe. Please conduct your own research to enrich your knowledgeand make a positive contribution.2. Familiarise yourself with the global conventions and charters outlined here, so that youcan make reference to clauses in relation to children to add value to your training. SeeAppendix 4 for details of these.3. Gather relevant personal experience and knowledge of good use/misuse of child rightsarising from cultural factors.This will help in your processing sessions. If you havepersonal experience (from within the family, community or general reading orinformation, including anecdotal information) you might be able to use it to create a roleplayor an exercise, without using any information that might be damaging to yourself orothers, and applying good judgment.4. As you prepare for the training, honestly assess and adjust your own attitudes towardschildren, and their rights within a cultural framework and in relation to HIV. A valuesclarification exercise will help you to remain open and non-judgmental as the trainer.5. Try out the exercises to assess yourself and see if you need to change or realign yourattitudes, perceptions or beliefs.6. Be open-minded enough to learn from the workshop participants.7. Try to be aware of your behaviour and assess your ability to listen and accept otherpeople's views and opinions. Criticism is valuable but it must be constructive.Making it happen… To make the training work really well,be excited and passionate about being atrainer. You are playing an important role in the life of our region and our children. Your work willhave an impact for a long time,so...• Be focused in your work – have a plan and set targets.• Know your target audience and choose appropriate activities and methods for them.• Be familiar with all the material you are using – know it thoroughly, and look for moreinformation.• Find information about what is happening around you regarding the observance of childrights and cultural practices. Don't be afraid to stick your neck out and be a leader in yourcommunity.What you do can make a difference.• Be flexible and adapt to changes in the programme or problems that come up in theworkshop. Use the same approach in your communities and in your work withorganisations or government ministries.• Be sensitive to your participants. Prevent any compromising situations or statements frombecoming a problem.• Be a leader – set a good example. Nobody is too small or insignificant to make changes intheir community.06Handbook on Child Rights and Culture