Training trainers: South Africa. "Things are serious".

An AIDS educator in Natal recently commented: "Things are looking really serious here. We are picking up 100 new HIV cases a week and have an estimated 150,000-300,000 people infected with the virus in Natal alone. This figure is currently doubling around every 6-9 months." In an attempt to address this problem, the AIDS Training, Information and Counselling Center (ATICC) in Durban has developed a 7-day "train the trainer" workshop and manual. The ATICC course helps participants to return to their business or community organization with the confidence and skills to plan, implement and evaluate the AIDS awareness and education program, including training additional AIDS educators locally. Skills building activities for carrying out effective and relevant programs include: how people learn and the theory of experience-based learning; assessment of self as an educator; analysis of target groups; the importance of clear aims and objectives; education techniques and methods; facilitation of group interaction and the use of facilitators' notes. By day 6 of the course, participants present and AIDS awareness session to a local group. By the end of the course, participants are able to plan an AIDS education program suitable for their organization. full text