Donation Information
Right To Play is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity no. 1112404.
Please donate online by following the link above (through Charity Choice) or send a cheque made payable to "Right To Play UK" to:
Right To Play UK39 - 43 Brewer Street,
London,
W1F 9UD
+44 (0) 207 734 7946
Teaching Kids About Health Through Games
by Ricardo Rodrigues, Right To Play Mozambique Project Coordinator
“What should we do about the mosquitoes that are spreading HIV all over the country?” asked a young boy from a rural area of Mozambique. It was the first day of the HIV/AIDS Training Course in an area where people are frequently misinformed about the topic and are in urgent need of valid information. Many others, who were also anxiously awaiting my answer, surrounded the young boy.
But how could I tell them in way they could understand? More importantly, how could I make sure they would be able to properly teach others in their communities about HIV and AIDS?
One answer is to use what Right To Play believes to be a fundamental force in changing people’s lives: sports, games and play. I spent almost two weeks using games that contained constructive messages about HIV/AIDS. By using traditional games they already knew, the children happily learned all about HIV/AIDS prevention, its impact on the body, the discrimination and stigmatization people with the disease encounter, and many other important messages.
The most important day of training was scheduled for last - the kids were expected to demonstrate what they learned in the training course. People from various communities came to the field and the ‘final exam’ began. I walked around to observe, and came across a scene that will stay with me forever.
The same boy who once believed mosquitoes contributed to the AIDS pandemic in Mozambique was now teaching several others, through the use of traditional games from his own village, all about HIV/AIDS: “We should all get tested at a medical clinic to find out if we are HIV positive or not. The faster one learns about it, the faster one can initiate treatment. That way, one will not only be able to live a longer and healthier life but he or she will also prevent many others from being contaminated.” At that moment, I thought to myself that I might have just helped save thousands of lives. I was overwhelmed with emotion and came close to tears.
About Ricardo Rodrigues
Ricardo completed a one year term as Project Coordinator for Right To Play’s SportHealth project in Maputo, Mozambique. Currently, Ricardo is now a Senior Project Officer for Right To Play’s Nakivale SportWorks project in Mbarara, Uganda.
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