Zimbabwean stories of "Best Practice" - SAfAIDS

An important part of the Auntie Stella toolkit is the 'Facilitator's and Adaptation Guide'. This helps leadersto organise the discussions in ways that are conducive to participatory interaction. For example, they giveideas on how to use role-plays and quizzes, debates and interviews, songs and stories, write-ups, mapsand diagrams. The Facilitator's guide also counsel the users on the ethics of group interaction, especiallythe importance of setting ground-rules, such as confidentiality and the need to give everyone a chanceto speak.Of significance is the fact that there is no real-life 'Auntie Stella'. The idea for the format of the publicationcame from research undertaken by TARSC staff on reproductive health issues in relation to Zimbabweanyouth, during which it came to light that youth often turned to Agony Aunt Columns in magazines foradvice. The content of the letters comes from real life stories - usually composites of these stories - so anyone card would not be truly biographical.The development process of the Auntie Stella toolkit was broadly consultative. The youths were the primarystakeholders involved in the process of writing and reviewing the cards. However, other key stakeholderswere also involved. The list that follows is not exhaustive, but gives an idea of TARSC's commitment to beas consultative a process as possible.The key stakeholders include:• Officials from the relevant ministries of health and education• Relevant organisations from the United Nations, such as UNAIDS, UNFPA and UNICEF• NGOs involved in reproductive health issues, such as Family Support Trust (FOST) and ZimbabweParticipatory HIV/AIDS Prevention and Awareness Teacher Training Programme (ZIMPATH)• Organisations with special health needs, such as Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)• Organisations supporting PLHIV, such as The Centre• Women's groups such as Women's Action Group (WAG)• Youth organisations, such as Zimbabwe Young People's Development CoalitionThe Auntie Stella programme implementers are working with various organisations: in Malawi with YouthNet and Counselling (YONECO), in Mozambique with Geração Biz, with the Tanzania German Programmeto Support Health (TGPSH) and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in Tanzania, and inZimbabwe with numerous community-based and national organisations, including the Community WorkingGroup on Health (CWGH), National AIDS Council, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council and SAfAIDS.TARSC has provided training and technical support to these and many other organisations in the region,both in the use of the Auntie Stella materials and in participatory approaches to working with young people.They also help many organisations to adapt the cards to suit local contexts. TARSC has distributed over3,500 Auntie Stella toolkits throughout the region.8.2 Elements of Best PracticeThe following seven indicators are adopted from the SADC criteria necessary for assessing a Best Practice.These were assessed in a ranking process using the Best Practice Score Key, and Auntie Stella achievedthe rank of 'Truly a Best Practice' (above 80%).54