Reducing HIV-related Stigma in School Children in Northern Uganda

The intervention will consist of 2-hour weekly sessions offered to students in participating schools. HIV-related stigma will be addressed by providing key information related to HIV and stigma, facilitating the acquisition of coping skills, and utilizing local cultural practices facilitated by Elders using creative methods to shift existing social and cultural norms that produce and perpetuate stigmatization. Specific intervention activities will include three interrelated activities. The core 2-hour weekly session will cover (1) transformative educational activities; (2) arts-based activities; (3) a summative activity consisting of (3) participatory theatre activites.