South Africa continues to struggle with the world's highest HIV rates, and the country's young people are amongst those most severely affected by this epidemic. The education sector, and especially teachers, are situated to be leaders in the national response and can provide emotional support as well as information on gender, sexuality, and HIV and AIDS. This article explores preservice teachers' experiences two years after participating in the Youth as Knowledge Producers (YAKP) research intervention, which provided them with training and practical experience in participatory visual methods for HIV and AIDS education. The article discusses participants' reflections on the methods, the continued influences of YAKP on how they think and approach teaching, and the barriers they experienced in securing further learning in this area. The research concludes that preservice teachers can benefit from short-term training in participatory visual methods for HIV and AIDS education by being exposed to a new pedagogical approach, and suggests further development in the integrated responses of higher education institutions in relation to the preservice teachers' HIV and AIDS education.
Young women who trade sex experience high rates of stigma that exacerbate existing health inequities. The products of participatory visual methodologies show promising potential for challenging stigma. In total, 15 young women who trade sex created individual brief videos to share their experiences. Following a participatory analysis, the videos were edited into one composite movie to highlight key messages. Eight facilitated screenings (cohosted by participant filmmakers and research team members) were organized with diverse community and health organizations. Audiences were led through a series of interactive writing, drawing, viewing, and discussion activities. Sessions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and inductively analyzed to assess the impacts of the film on audiences. Audience reactions were categorized into four overarching themes to describe main impacts: consciousness raising, commitments to practice and organizational change, effectiveness of the approach, and limitations. Audience responses demonstrated that facilitated screenings can challenge harmful stereotypes and help viewers consider pathways to enact positive change in their personal and professional lives. However, changing deep-rooted patterns of stigma takes time, dedication, and accountability.
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