Beating HIV prejudice

1. It's important that the group has some knowledge about HIV and AIDS. Download the Action on AIDS pack to explore the issue with your unit first.
2. Split the unit into groups of about six.
3. Ask each group to create a character. They should decide on the character's age, name, religion, hobbies, favourite sports, best friends, whether they have a boyfriend/girlfriend, their personality traits, who their parents are and their relationship with their parents, what music they listen to, and so on. Ask them to give the other groups a brief description of their character's average day.
4. Then inform the groups that their character is HIV positive.
5. Will this change their character’s life? Might it change the attitude of others towards them, in a negative or positive way? How might they feel about themselves? How do girls think their society, friends and family would treat them?
6. Encourage a discussion about prejudice. What is prejudice? Can you be prejudiced against someone without realising it? What could be the cause of prejudice? Could it be a lack of information or ignorance about an issue? What is the best way to deal with prejudice?

Don't make assumptions about the HIV status of any the girls. Remember that they might be HIV positive and consider the impact this exercise would have on them before beginning.