Students in Russian schools show dramatic improvements in knowledge of, and attitudes to sexually transmitted infections, through pioneering schools-based teaching programme.
Project HOPE has pioneered an effective teaching methodology for school children to prevent ill health in Russia and Ukraine. The programme is based in schools and teaches children not only the causes of ill health, but the skills on how to avoid 'risky' behaviour in relation to substance abuse and HIV/AIDS.
This skills based programme effectively targets teachers, training them in participatory education techniques and also focuses on parents by equipping them to offer support to this school based education.
Currently over 70% of Russian regions are using the Project HOPE programme, named 'Useful Habits' for junior schools and 'Useful Skills' for high schools, a project initiated with funding from GlaxoSmithKline. Furthermore a pilot scheme, funded by Project HOPE and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, is currently underway in Russian vocational training schools with the focus being on the prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission.
