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Goal:To enhance the ability of high-risk vulnerable children and youth of Mumbai city to respond effectively to situations that place them at risk to HIV/AIDS.
In November 2001, Committed Communities Development Trust (CCDT) along with the Shiamak Davar’s Institute for the Performing Arts (SDIPA), entered into a partnership to implement Dancing Feat (DF). DF was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with technical support from Family Health International (FHI). The project addressed issues of HIV/AIDS, stigma and discrimination, growing up and so on. DF adopted a unique child-friendly strategy which combined popular dance forms along with group counseling and life skills education. The project looked at the medium of dance as having an inherent therapeutic value for the children (confidence building, improving self awareness etc.) and as a starting point for various group therapies. The dance classes were followed by group counseling and life skills education sessions which provided the children with a safe space to ventilate their feelings and build psycho-social skills to reduce their vulnerability.
Over the past 5 years, the project has reached out to over 1600 children (6 – 18 years) at risk of HIV/AIDS through thirteen Partner NGOs across Mumbai city. The majority of these children live in and around Kamathipura, the largest red light area in Mumbai. The other children live on the streets, in slums and in other residential institutions. The program was designed to give children opportunities to learn and interact in an easy atmosphere in order to keep them interested and committed.
Addressing Stigma
and Discrimination
The difficult circumstances the children came from; combined with the fact that some of them were infected/affected by HIV/AIDS, meant they faced even more discrimination. All children, irrespective of their HIV status, performed their dances together at public forums, sending out a clear message of ‘no discrimination'.
Activities
 Dance classes as a means
of expression, channelising energies positively, team work and
discipline.
 Helps build
confidence and self esteem.
Creative dance activity
sessions where the children developed dances on various themes related
to
their lives, e.g.
gender differences.
Group counseling sessions
as a tool for information, education and psychosocial support, which
facilitated the
child's decision making process towards healthy growth, avoiding risk
situations.
Life skills education
sessions that taught positive behaviors enabling children to deal
effectively with the
demands and
challenges of everyday living.
Regular dance
presentations which comprised performances ‘by the
children’, ‘for the children’ and help
build confidence.
Annual public
performances that give children the opportunity to perform with
professional lights, sound
and an audience
comprising their families, friends and communities.
Peer education sessions
in dance facilitation and group sessions for selected children to be
able to
sustain the
program.
Developed a resource book
to facilitate similar efforts.
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