UNESCO Dhaka, Official Website of United Nation Education Scientific Cultural Organization, Dhaka Bangladesh

Translation and Adaptation of “HIV/AIDS and Education: A Toolkit for the Ministry of Education

UNESCO has been globally given the responsibility for coordinating the education sector response to HIV/AIDS. Responding to the given responsibilities, UNESCO Bangkok in collaboration with UNAIDS developed an advocacy kit “HIV/AIDS and Education: A Toolkit for Ministries of Education” targeted to the senior and mid-level officials of MOE. The major objective of this guide was to encourage and help particularly education Ministry/Department officials across the South East Asia and Pacific region, to reinforce their commitment, increase awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS, and collaborate to take actions against the disease. This toolkit was translated and adapted in different languages in different countries and UNESCO Dhaka has undertaken the initiative and gave the responsibility to Bangladesh AIDS Prevention Society (BAPS) for translation and adaptation of this toolkit, which was finalized through a three-day national workshop. This toolkit has been used as an effective tool for HIV/AIDS advocacy and awareness raising.

Capacity Building of Secondary School Teachers on HIV/AIDS Preventive Education

Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO organized two-day workshops on HIV/AIDS preventive education in 20 districts. The participants are headmasters, principals (including Madrasas) & Science teachers of the government and non-government secondary schools. The objective was to enable the teachers and educational administrators to integrate HIV/AIS contents in the educational processes and lessons, which will help students prepare themselves for a decent and hygienic sexual life.

Organizing “National Adaptation Workshop of the Teacher Training (TT) Manual: Reducing HIV/AIDS Vulnerability Among Students in the School Setting”

Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO with Ministry of Education organized the said workshop. TT Manual was translated in Bangla and was finalized through this national adaptation workshop. This manual is expected to nurture the curriculum of the teacher training institutes to train the secondary school teachers.

Development of a National Curriculum and Educational Materials on HIV/AIDS Preventive Education for Imams and Mosque based HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme

A national NFE training curriculum on HIV/AIDS preventive education to train religious leaders and Imams of the mosque was developed by Grambangla Unnayan Committee in close participation of all concerned Ministries, Govt. agencies and NGOs. The manual was used to orient Imams and religious leaders on HIV/AIDS preventive education. The Imams and religious leaders being one of the most influential social and religious actors contribute a lot in raising awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention and elimination of social stigma and discrimination.
UNESCO Dhaka continues the project on Imam training by the implementing partner Grambangla Unnayan Committee (GUC) and already 300 Imams were trained. GUC conducted 24 orientation workshops in 24 districts of 6 divisions of Bangladesh to train 240 persons. The main aim was for them to understand and discuss the roles of religious and community leaders and other key stakeholders in response to HIV/AIDS. These 240 trained persons are supposed to work in 240 spots at the community level.

Development and adaptation of HIV and AIDS materials for illiterates

TREE Foundation ltd. – an individual national media firm implemented this activity. The main objectives of this project were to r eview and adopt existing IEC materials for HIV/AIDS education in Bangladesh and develop illiteracy friendly materials on the issue; mobilize local press and community leaders to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS; raise awareness among on HIV/AIDS among school going and non-school going young population and illiterate community using proper media. TREE Foundation ltd. collects and reviews recently developed materials; develops strategy for useable Information Education Communication production; forms a cultural group; records 500 audio cassette/CD; develop 50 VCD of 10-15 minutes duration short film; produces 3,000 pictorial booklets and 3,000 cartoon books.

Organize 25 awareness-raising meetings in rural areas for the press personnel, NGOs, local leaders and educators

Dhaka Ahsania Mission, a national NGO conducts training programmes for 700 people such as media professional, local leaders, religious leaders, local NGOs, teachers, and health (traditional) service providers of the respective rural areas in Bangladesh on HIV/AIDS vulnerability.
The overall aim is to prevent HIV infections and help avert a generalized HIV epidemic in Bangladesh . An initiative will be there to establish a referral mechanism between the Dhaka Ahsania Mission and the participants for further support at the end of the activity. Materials are being tested and revised, resulting by the end of the project in a complete set of open access, materials on reporting of HIV/AIDS in Bangla, ready for distribution to rural, illiterate populations as well as college students in remote areas.

This is the continuing activity of TREE Foundation ltd. They will arrange 10 interactive theatre performances to finalizing script for production, select a sample population to listen audio cassette, test pictorial handbook and cartoon book for wider use, mobilize local press and media to publish these materials for community people.

Awareness raising activities on HIV/AIDS and its prevention selected urban and rural

LIFE, a national NGO carries out activities to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS and to promote safe behavior targeting 5,000 students, truck drivers, rickshaw pullers & day laborers. By conducting a baseline survey and evaluation study, increased knowledge and behavior changes of the target groups are measured