Empowering Vulnerable Children Through Dance

Innovative dance form that provides life skills education. Photo Credit: CCDT

Challenge:

100,000 children are infected with HIV/AIDS in India (source: UNAIDS / WHO 2006 Report on the global AIDS epidemic). HIV/AIDS not only threatens their health but can also debilitate their families, depriving them of parental love and protection. HIV-associated stigma and discrimination can lead to isolation and reduce their chances of receiving basic education. Children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS undergo severe psychological stress.

Initiative:

The USAID-supported “Dancing Feat” project has involved more than 1900 HIV/AIDS at-risk, infected and affected children in the city of Mumbai with technical assistance from Family Health International. A local partner, Committed Communities Development Trust, taught the children dance using it as an innovative medium to provide counseling sessions, changing attitudes and behavior and building confidence among at-risk children. Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts, a renowned modern dance institute in India, supported the project by choreographing dances for the children.

Dance was used as a means to strengthen their concentration, motivate them to adopt healthy habits, teach them life skills and counsel them on topics such as sex and sexuality, adolescence and HIV/AIDS prevention. The project also provided supplementary nutrition to the children. Performing group dances accompanied by pulsating music on themes such as non-discrimination against HIV positive people was a major achievement for these children.

Result:

“Dancing Feat” has provided at-risk children a unique platform to express themselves confidently. Children feel empowered, have better self esteem and are better able to make informed decisions. The project exposed children to diverse ideas improving opportunities for their future. Many of these children became catalysts or peer educators in their communities, educating others on substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, sex and sexuality and reducing stigma towards HIV positive people.

“I know how to protect myself from HIV, not to act over-friendly with boys, otherwise they can take advantage of you, ask you for sex. I learned to not repeat the mistakes which others have committed, to protect myself” says a girl participant.