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Wardell, Christopher

Community Development and Applied Economics

2009

MS

Research reported in this thesis analyzed the appropriateness of a HIV/AIDS education campaign in St. Lucia called Football for Lives (FfL) modeled after the very successful Grassroot Soccer (GRS) program. GRS has been implemented in other countries throughout the world. The GRS approach uses the power and popularity of soc, er to break down cultural barriers, educate young people, and bring communities together to address the issue of HIV/AIDS, GRS employs a unique, activities-based curriculum to prepare trainers and peer educators to reach out to their communities and educate the population at large about how to avoid HIV infection. The curriculum developed for the GRS education program is based on the principles of sociaL learning theory developed by Albert Bandura, a noted behavioral psychologist. The Grassroot Soccer Program is a series of challenging activities, often described as games by participants, that allow youth to explore sensitive issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Professional soccer players, teachers, peer educat0rs and other role models are trained as Grassroot Soccer Coaches to deliver this games based curriculum to youth who range in age from 10 to 18 years old. The Grassroot Soccer Curriculum creates a fun, friendly and safe environment in which youth can share their feelings and beliefs about HIV/AIDS, increase their knowledge, and develop healthy attitudes and behaviours concerning HIV/AIDS.
Starting in the fall of 2007 students from the University of Vermont, New York University, and the University of Illinois have implememnted FfL in the fifth and sixth grades of the Mon Repos Combine and Patience Primary Schools, Mon Repos village, St. Lucia. Qualitative and quantitative assesments were conducted to determine the program effectiveness, including in the summer of 2008, in which pre and posttests were administered to program participants to assess change in HIV/AIDS related knowledge. In January 2009, a five-month follow up was administerd to summer 2008 program participants. The qualitative assesment examined the effectiveness of the training of University of Vermont students trained to deliver the GRS curriculum. The quantitative assesment measured change in students knowledge over time defined by the survey instrument. It was found that students' knowledge did increase as a result of the FfL program. The qualitative assesment confirmed the programs theoretical basis and that it was culturally appropriate in St. Lucia. However, it was found that the FfL program needs to be more effective in sustaining the program over time. In addition, it is suggested that to get a true understanding of the FfL program, a longitudinal study of program participants would be necessary to measure health outcomes.