Channeling Men's Positive Involvement in the National HIV/AIDS Response (CHAMPION) Project
CURRENT PROJECT
The Channeling Men's Positive Involvement in the National HIV/AIDS Response (CHAMPION) Project is a five-year project led by EngenderHealthTanzania, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Presidents. FHI 360 is a subcontractor to EngenderHealth on this project.
The Tanzanian definition of masculinity is a major factor in the country's HIV epidemic. Men with non-equitable views of masculinity are more likely to have multiple concurrent partners, practice unsafe sex, abuse drugs and alcohol, and treat women violently, placing themselves, their partners, and their families at risk of HIV infection. More than half of the 1.4 million people living with HIV in Tanzania are women.
CHAMPION's primary goal is to promote a national dialogue about gender roles, and to increase gender-equitable beliefs and behaviors. Through this increased dialogue, the project aims to reduce the vulnerability of men, women, and children to HIV/AIDS and other adverse reproductive health outcomes. The CHAMPION Project aims to:
- Reduce high-risk behaviors in men
- Promote fidelity in monogamous relationships
- Encourage fewer sexual partners
- Eliminate gender-based violence
- Increase men's participation in health services
Strategy
Under the CHAMPION project, FHI 360 is responsible for communication, workplace initiatives, and community mobilization. These interventions work together to accomplish the project's mission of behavior change toward more equitable gender roles.
Communication
FHI 360 (formerly AED) developed a comprehensive behavior change communications campaign for the CHAMPION Project called the Vunja Ukimya (Break the Silence) Campaign. Vunja Ukimya was launched in June 2010 in coordination with the FIFA World Cup. This campaign was the first step in promoting a positive dialogue between couples about gender roles, family planning, and simple couple communications.
For Father's Day, June 20, 2010 CHAMPION hosted celebrations in ten regions: Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pwani, Shinyanga, and Tabora. The key message during the events was: Vunja Ukimya. Zungumza na Mwenzio (Break the silence. Talk with your partner). Community events including: Public debates on couples' communication; Community health fairs; Father's Day public concerts took place in all 13 project districts with the goal of:
- Encouraging and promoting transparent and respectful couple communication which will eventually enhance love, respect, transparency and fidelity among couples.
- Encouraging support and active participation of men in family health issues.
Community Mobilization
CHAMPION community mobilization activities are geared toward individual-level change. The CHAMPION community mobilization team assembles concerts, road shows, information booths, and community gatherings where community members are educated to become "champions:" given the skills and information about how to lead safer, healthier lives that will empower themselves and their families.
Workplace Initiatives
The CHAMPION Project's workplace initiatives include partnerships with the Association of Tanzania Employers, the Tanzanian Ministry for Community Development, Gender and Children, and individual employers to adopt workplace policies that are gender equitable and supportive of people living with HIV/AIDS.
News, Publications, and Results
News
- CHAMPION Photo/Story Project: Inspiring social change through male involvement in health (January 2008)
Publications
- HIV and AIDS Fact Sheet (PDF, 700kb)
- Family Planning and Reproductive Health Fact Sheet (PDF, 496kb)
Contacts
Christian
Winger
Project Director
1825 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
+1 (202) 884-8779
cwinger@fhi360.org