The Farmer Life School: experience from an innovative approach to HIV education among farmers in South Africa

SAHARA J : Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance
K SwaansJ F G Bunders

Abstract

The Farmer Life School (FLS) is an innovative approach to integrating HIV education into life skills and technical training for farmers. This study aims to gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of this relatively new approach, through the implementation of an adapted version in South Africa. The results are presented of a pilot with three groups of community gardeners, predominantly women, attending weekly sessions. Impact was assessed in terms of three key elements: participation, learning, and empowerment. Data were collected through extensive session reports, follow-up interviews, and reflection exercises with facilitators and participating groups and individuals. The results suggest that a group-based discovery learning approach such as the FLS has great potential to improve food security and wellbeing, while allowing participants to explore issues around HIV/AIDS. However, the analysis also shows that HIV/AIDS-related illness and death, and the factors that drive the epidemic and its impact, undermine farmers' ability to participate, the safety and trust required for learning, and the empowerment process. Participatory approaches such as the FLS require a thorough understanding of and adaptation to the context.

References

Sep 18, 1998·Nursing Outlook·H M Miramontes, I B Corless
Sep 23, 2000·Baillière's Best Practice & Research. Clinical Haematology·M Körbling
May 20, 2003·Social Science & Medicine·Richard Parker, Peter Aggleton
Jul 3, 2007·SAHARA J : Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance·F Booysen

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