Aquí no pasa nada (Nothing Is Going on Here)

This radio show used the strategy of entertainment-education to inform youth about issues such as HIV and AIDS and to try to change their behaviour. The storyline: Lucero is turning 15 and her parents are so preoccupied with the preparations of her Quiceañera party they are not communicating with Lucero or her older sister, Rosa. Meanwhile, both sisters are struggling. Rosa worries about being a young, single mother, and Lucero suffers an attempted rape. After these unpleasant experiences, the family learns to communicate better and develop mutual trust. Valery and Dany are dating and are sexually active, but they don't use any protection. Dany travels frequently and has several sexual partners. Valery discovers his infidelity and ends the relationship but fears she might be pregnant. In the end, Valery learns to advocate for herself, and Dany overcomes his fears and has a rapid HIV test. In addition to "Nothing's Going On," organisers produced accompanying radio magazine shows that invited dialogue and audience participation about the issues of HIV/AIDS, other STIs, and unplanned pregnancy prevention.

Youth participation in behaviour change was also part of this initiative through a collaboration with Red SIDA Cusco, a coalition of organisations united to address the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Cusco, Peru. For instance, 16-year-old Bryan roamed the streets of Cusco to inform his peers about the effects of HIV/AIDS and how to prevent contracting the virus. Bryan spent time walking through the main gathering places for teens, inviting them to play games targeted at improving knowledge and practices for prevention.

The project team also took the programme directly into the community by hosting trainings for teachers and principals at local schools and workshops for students themselves. Community dialogues and trainings addressed the root cause of poor sexual and reproductive health among the region's youth, including access to and use of health services, inter-generational communication, and gender and intercultural relations. The programme's messages invited the community to reconsider how they discuss issues of sexual and reproductive health.

At a teacher workshop, a conversation broke out about whether or not homosexuality has a cure, reported one participant. "This created a brief discussion on tolerance, respect, and nondiscrimination," she said. "This project helps us think about the roles teachers play in the construction of positions for and against controversial themes allowing us to rethink and question our positions and attitudes with a stronger scientific, factual base to defend in front of our students."

HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health, Youth.

According to the Ministry of Health, one out of every three people in Peru is between the ages of 13 and 19. In Cusco alone, one in five adolescent mothers has had between two and four pregnancies before her 20th birthday. Data also show that in the past few years, adolescent use of contraceptives has not surpassed 2.6%. These young women lack the benefits of information and access to family planning methods and are often also the victims of sexual assault. A study conducted by Universidad Cyetano Heredia in the Cusco region indicates that 60% of pregnancies in girls between the ages of 11 and 14 are a result of rape or incest.

"Nothing Is Going on Here" was organised as part of PCI-Media Impact's My Community, a series of message-oriented, locally developed pro-social grassroots media programmes throughout Latin America. Each My Community programme covers community-specific issues, such as democratic principles, sexual health and rights, reproductive health, and the mismanagement of solid waste.