Sanaa Art Promotions (SAP) - Kenya

SAP uses visual and theatre arts for communication through a method called Participatory Interactive Media Model (PIMM) to advocate for behaviour change primarily among the youth. PIMM is a concept developed by SAP in which participants take an active role in simulation exercises. Multi-dimensional channels such as theatre, focus group discussions, essay writing competitions, and radio programme listening sessions are used. In this model, participants are challenged to come up with their own proposals to identified problems. A PIMM outreach starts with icebreaking, which involves games, songs, and exercises that help participants to relax. This is followed by the presentation of skits that depict dilemmas earlier identified during contact setting and focus group discussions. The skits are used to elicit debates and discussions on the dilemmas leading to options for solutions. The options are then captured in templates that are presented for scrutiny, improvement, and approval or disapproval before final development and display on murals or other materials.

According to the organisers, PIMM allows groups and communities to discover their own resources and innovative strategies to address socio-economic challenges from their own perspectives. The programme involves the implementation of interactive media processes, discussion forums, performing, and fine art outreach among communities. SAP has used the PIMM model to address various issues and has been used to address HIV/AIDS in a school and community- based youth behaviour change intervention programme. Theatre, murals, debates, essays, writing, and talk shows, were used to develop messages and promote behaviour change.

Some of SAPs current projects include the National Civic Education Programme (NCEP) and Democracy and Human Rights Fund programme. The National Civic Education Programm (NCEP) Phase II began in 2008 and will run through until December 2009 (Phase I ended in 2007). This initiative works to increase positive participation of youth in the democratisation process, human rights, and responsible use of the environment and natural resources at both grassroots and national levels. The organisation works with youth between ages 15 and 35 years in schools, tertiary institutions, and communities. Activities such as interactive learning platforms, focus group discussions, message development workshop, debates, outreach, and murals painted with appropriate messages form the basis of the programme.

The Democracy and Human Rights Fund programme, which ran from October 2006 until 2007, was adopted to help increase youth participation in electoral processes. This project was designed for youth between ages 15 and 35, both in-and-out of school. The main activities were to engage the youth in focus group discussions to collect and collate their views, the development of participatory community outreaches, and mural painting. The views collected during discussions and outreach were transposed on a mural to manifest and sustain the civic education content imparted to the youth and the community.

SAP also initiated a family planning campaign in conjunction with the Family Planning Association of Kenya and participants from the private sector. In addition, it has implemented environmental conservation intervention programmes for the Kenya Energy and Conservation Organisation (KENGO) and HIV/AIDS intervention projects for various organisations.

HIV/AIDS, Health, Education, Governance, Gender, Environment, Family Planning, Youth, and Rights.