| God's House International |
| God's House International |
The finale outreach with L.E.G.A.C.Y. was held on Aberdeen Beach. This outreach was conducted
from 10:30 p.m. to midnight on February 10th. Our “Love Yourself" message was presented to more
than 150 people along this strip of the beach. The age range was from the early twenties to late
thirties. On this evening God's House decided to go directly to the youth. Abderdeen Beach is a
popular hang-out for the youth on the weekends, and we took this as a prime time to spread the
message to those who needed it the most.
Many in attendance at the beach were known sex workers. Again "HIV/AIDS in-a-minute"
presentations, demonstrations and distribution of the male and female condom was carried out.
Many in attendance expressed there gratefulness for the work God's House is doing. Several young
men noted the fact that there is need for more outreach to be done on the beach and in the night
clubs. The women appeared to be quite hesitant to talk about or take the condom. The men, on the
other hand, were very anxious to have both the male and female condoms. One participant stated, "I
always use the condom. I don't want to get the sickness or have a lot of children who will grow up in
poverty like I did." Another participant said, “I am visiting Freetown. I bring my condoms with me
when I come. I have a wife and I don't want to get anything and give it to her."
The men were frank, open and honest whilst the women had little, if anything, to say. This is very
concerning, because we know that it is the young women who tend to contract the disease and have
the unwanted pregnancies which perpetuate the poverty in these communities. Our campaign
stressed the importance of the condom as a barrier against HIV/AIDS and other STDs and as a
means of birth control. It is possible that such a message may be culturally offensive to many of the
women because they do want to bare children and also because sex is not spoken about in such an
open manner amongst women. This is an issue that will have to be targeted and placed in its cultural
context in order for the message of prevention to spread and be well received amongst the women.
Our message is to "protect yourself" so that you can be disease free and bear children in stable,
economically sound environments.
Next page.
from 10:30 p.m. to midnight on February 10th. Our “Love Yourself" message was presented to more
than 150 people along this strip of the beach. The age range was from the early twenties to late
thirties. On this evening God's House decided to go directly to the youth. Abderdeen Beach is a
popular hang-out for the youth on the weekends, and we took this as a prime time to spread the
message to those who needed it the most.
Many in attendance at the beach were known sex workers. Again "HIV/AIDS in-a-minute"
presentations, demonstrations and distribution of the male and female condom was carried out.
Many in attendance expressed there gratefulness for the work God's House is doing. Several young
men noted the fact that there is need for more outreach to be done on the beach and in the night
clubs. The women appeared to be quite hesitant to talk about or take the condom. The men, on the
other hand, were very anxious to have both the male and female condoms. One participant stated, "I
always use the condom. I don't want to get the sickness or have a lot of children who will grow up in
poverty like I did." Another participant said, “I am visiting Freetown. I bring my condoms with me
when I come. I have a wife and I don't want to get anything and give it to her."
The men were frank, open and honest whilst the women had little, if anything, to say. This is very
concerning, because we know that it is the young women who tend to contract the disease and have
the unwanted pregnancies which perpetuate the poverty in these communities. Our campaign
stressed the importance of the condom as a barrier against HIV/AIDS and other STDs and as a
means of birth control. It is possible that such a message may be culturally offensive to many of the
women because they do want to bare children and also because sex is not spoken about in such an
open manner amongst women. This is an issue that will have to be targeted and placed in its cultural
context in order for the message of prevention to spread and be well received amongst the women.
Our message is to "protect yourself" so that you can be disease free and bear children in stable,
economically sound environments.
Next page.
| Sunday February 10, 2008 |
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