Cuido Mi Vida, Cuido Tu Vida [I Care for my Life, I Care for your Life]

The JPS youth network uses theatre - collectively written socio drama, monologue, and individually written pieces - as a means of communication to increase knowledge and awareness of HIV, methods of prevention, and behaviours involved in sexual responsibility. The network does capacity and leadership building with youth on the themes of HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and public health delivery to enable them to present information to peers in an informative, entertaining, and effective manner. The intention is for JPS members to serve as examples of good health through positive engagement, achievement, perseverance, and leadership.

Their performances are written and developed as a collective, then presented to their schools and communities. At the end of each presentation, there is a theatre forum in which the public interacts with the peer educators to increase clarity and emphasise the themes presented. They aim to construct a space for open conversation on issues of sexuality and drug use that they claim is unavailable elsewhere in their schools and communities.

Capacity building of youth leaders through the collective creation of the work of theatre is directed toward group sustainability. The project aims to develop youth writing, leadership, and presentation skills and artistic talents in delivering health communication information through theatre performance.

HIV/AIDS, Youth, Reproductive Health.

Due to early sexual début, vulnerability of young people to HIV infection, and stigma surrounding it, there is rarely timely and sufficient information available from parents and teachers, according to JPS group leaders. One of the objectives of the group is to encourage open discussion of sexual health and infection prevention, in which participants can speak freely regardless of sexual preference or religious beliefs. Other objectives include: strengthening youth knowledge of their rights to information on forms of transmission; clarifying and identifying myths and false information; and using testimonials to reduce stigma and discrimination against PLWHA. They intend to involve people living with HIV and AIDS in their campaign delivery and aim to capture the attention of adults in positions of authority so that action will be taken within the general population on the issue of stigma and respect for the rights of PLWHA.