After the PEPFAR conference in Estelí, my counterparts were ready to put what we learned into action and within a week, we were planning charlas to give at cafeteleras (coffee plantations) to all of the workers about HIV. In the northern region of Nicaragua, mobile populations and agriculture workers are amongst the highest populations that have HIV. Right now, it is coffee harvesting season, so the northern departments are housing many people from these populations, and we are aprovechar-ing (taking advantage of) this time of season to educate them. The majority of the workers in these populations are men.
We started by going to a plantation called Jesus Mountain which is partnered with a company in California. The plantation was outside of the little pueblo of Escambray about 6 km from Jalapa. After a long, rocky ride in the back of a pickup truck, we collaborated with the nurse from the local puesto, a fellow Peace Corps Agriculture volunteer from Mozonte, Nueva Segovia and a nursing student to give our presentation.
We started by showing a short Nicaraguan film called "La Pepena" about mobile populations and HIV. We then give a basic charla about what HIV/AIDS is, how it is transmitted, prevention and a condom demonstration. To break up the presentation, we also have a dinámica (activity) called "Calledito ser más Bonito" (The Quietest is the Most Beautiful") in which we have two participants stare at each other while other participants make faces at the other opponent. Whoever cracks a smile first: loses. It is a very fun way to loosen up and entertain the population in the middle of the work day.
I'd like to think that the workers gained knowledge about HIV and would hope that they'd be more cautious in the future as well as spread their new knowledge.
Burrito and coffee plants at Jesus Mountain
We're finally here! No more bumpy truck rides!
Planning the presentation
The workers watching "La Pepena"
Explaining the methods of transmission of HIV
Calledito Ser Más Bonito
Demonstrating the correct use of a condom
Calledito Ser Más Bonito
Super serious round!
View of the Jalapa Valley
View of the coffee mill
Cerro de Jesus
The week after Jesus Mountain, our group of four (the Marvins, my PCV friend and I) went to another cafetelera called Finca El Diamante outside of the pueblo San Rafael, about 15 km on highway and an extra 5-6 km on rough dirt road from Jalapa. The layout of the presentation was the same, with the movie, presentation, condom demonstration and dinámica, and one of the Marvins even provided Malaria testing on site as well. There was one lady worker, which I had a huge amount of respect for, and the audience was great. They even had a resident puppy who I fell in love with, too!
The pup
Bamboo tree amongst banana and coffee plants
Watching "La Pepena"
Getting some puppy love
Explaining transmission and prevention
Marvin providing a Malaria test
Calledito Ser Más Bonito
The Marvins doing a condom demonstration
Workers showing how to properly use a condom
Views on the way down to the highway
Views on the way down to the highway
Sun setting on the ridge
We have more presentations at cafeteleras in the weeks ahead, and I can't wait to do them!
1 comments:
awesome! exciting to see PEPFAR conference in action.
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