Breakthrough Endline Report

This report shares evaluation data on a youth peer education programme called the Rights Advocates which was carried out from 2006-2007 in 3 universities in India. The initiative worked to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV/AIDS by broadening awareness through youth spokespeople, ages 18-24, in local communities. Specific goals included removing the shroud of secrecy and shame surrounding sex and sexuality, creating environments where sex/sexuality and HIV/AIDS can be discussed openly, and promoting the rights of people living with AIDS (PLHA), especially women.



As detailed here, the human rights organisation Breakthrough - in collaboration with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and Novib - selected 30 youth studying at Jamia Millia Islamia, Lucknow University, and Delhi University to serve as peer educators. They were provided with 8 months of intensive training, including 12 workshops and mentorship in: information, education, and communication (IEC); public speaking and training skills; and addressing gender, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS stigma, discrimination, and prevention. The holistic orientation was built on a non-judgmental rights-based approach that encourages dialogue and responsible decision-making.



A structured questionnaire was administered to 23 students from Jamia Millia Islamia University and other Delhi University graduate colleges (the "experimental group") at the beginning of the Rights Advocate programme. Endline research was conducted at the programme's completion with the same experimental group and also with a control group: 25 students with similar characteristics who were randomly chosen from other colleges in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).



Key Findings:

• The evaluation process found increased communication skills among peer educators - not only to their peer groups, but also to a wider public within places like marketplaces, malls, buses, and slum areas. Specifically, the Rights Advocates were able to influence the community at large by conducting awareness-raising activities (street plays, screenings of multimedia material, melas (fairs), putting up stalls, etc.), addressing issues around stigma and discrimination faced by PLHA, preventing HIV, and promoting non-judgmental dialogue on sexual health. Through direct workshops, the students reached approximately 480 people. Outreach events or indirect outreach activities reached approximately 2,900 people.
• There was an increase in awareness on all the parameters, with the total percentage increasing from 63.9% to 77.6%. There was an increase in awareness level on 2 indicators: 29.5% from baseline (63.2%) to endline (92.7%) on HIV prevention and 39% increase from baseline (24.7%) to endline (63.7%) on rights of PLHA.
• In terms of attitude change: Related to the statement "I think I can protect myself from HIV/AIDS", there was an increase of 30.25% from baseline (65.2%) to endline (95.45%). Related to the statement "I would be ashamed if I were infected with HIV", there is decrease of 26.1% from baseline (26.1%) to endline (0%), which is positive outcome showing decrease in shame associated with infection. Related to the statement "I would be ashamed if someone in my family will have HIV/AIDS", there was a decrease of 25.85% from baseline (30.4%) to endline (4.55%).