Dong Nai – 23.2.2023 

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Vietnam is most impacting young people under 29 years of agre who are engaging in unprotected sex. Concerningly, these young people have limited information and knowledge related to HIV prevention, treatment, and services, leading to a low utilization of health care services. LADDERS currently supports 32 community-based organizations and social enterprises (CBO/SEs) in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Dong Nai, Can Tho and Kien Giang provinces to provide critical support and services to vulnerable people, including students. Through the SAFE UNI model, CBOs/SEs enhance the knowledge of students in universities, colleges and vocational schools, particularly among at-risk groups, on HIV prevention and safe sex practices.

Last week, G-Net Bien Hoa CBO managed to conduct an offline SAFE UNI event for young students of Dinh Tien Hoang 2 high school in Dong Nai province. More than 200 hundred local young adolescents from grades 10 and 11 were present with school leaders and teachers. They participated in various interactive and informative activities promoting key messages of self-love, healthy lifestyle, and health-seeking habits while introducing free HIV testing, counseling, and PrEP services. Esteemed guest speakers including health experts from Bien Hoa OPC and LIFE Centre managed to engage the young audience, piquing their curiosity and provoking their excitement. Through games and interactions, students broaden their knowledge of gender/sexuality, HIV/AIDS and STIs along with additional information and fun tips about love, safe sex practices and healthy living. The organizer, G-Net Bien Hoa CBO, took the opportunity to promote their brand and deliver their HIV testing and counseling services on site during and after the events.

SAFE Uni events offer a safe space for students to raise concerns, discuss misinformation and freely learn and explore topics about gender, sex, health, and HIV/AIDS through talk shows, arts and booths delivered and showcased by community organizations. The younger the audience reached, the more timely the intervention might be in terms of HIV/AIDS prevention. This approach brings CBOs and universities/schools into a similar relationship as CBOs and HFs through the C2P+ model – utilizing and expanding the collaborations and impact of CBOs for serving the broader community through the power of engaging partnerships

Figure 1,2. The school leaders expressed and offered their full endorsement and support to such programs and interventions for young people (i.e. SAFE UNI) as it is crucial to debunk the taboo and myths of sex, health, HIV/AIDS and love. Students should have the opportunity to be more open and have safe space/opportunities to learn and share as their concerns and curiosities should be heard and discussed in a timely and thoughtful manner to be informative and impactful for their future.

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Figure 3,4. Key messages related to sex and HIV/AIDS were sensitized, shaped and delivered that were age-appropriate for high school students in a witty GenZ way by community-friendly experts, capturing young participants’ attention and communicating in a way that resonated with them.