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A report on the China and Zimbabwe event against HIV/AIDS
New Hope Foundation & Health Volunteers for Africa
December 31, 2009

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Introduction

This chapter covers all the preparations that were done by the two hosting organizations i.e. New Hope Foundation (NHF) and Health Volunteers for Africa (HVA). It includes visits to the Chinese embassy, Government officials, and venues for the opening and closing ceremonies, training and rehearsals centers and selection of peer education candidates.

Visits to the Chinese Embassy

The first meeting was held on. The two hosting organizations were represented by their leaders, namely Elfas Shangwa (NHF) and Mike Mamire (HVA). The purpose of their appointment was to give feedback on their visit to China. The other four visits were centered on the delegation that was expected to travel to Zimbabwe for the pilot project. At most times the meetings were platforms for updates on the preparations in China and in Zimbabwe.

Visits to government officials

There were visits to several government officials by the hosting organizations. Each was visited at least three times. These officials are those in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Arts, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Governor of the Metropolitan Province of Harare, the Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet and the Mayor of the City of Harare. The purpose was to seek permission to carry out the pilot project. It was also to explain the nature of the project, its intended benefits to the target population and to set dates for appointments with the expected Chinese delegates. Another reason was to request authorization to set up a patriotic national indigenous NGOs body. This body is to be designed along the framework of CNIE. The governor was particularly invited to be the guest of honor.

Visits to venues

The organizing team visited various schools in Epworth to identify suitable venues for the events. They also visited surrounding lodges to scout for a suitable and least expensive one as the training centre. Some of them are Mbizi Lodge, Mazvikadei Holiday Resort, Hunyani Hills Hotel and Harare Safari Lodge. At the end Hunyani Hills Hotel was chosen as it had a beautiful scenery, ideal conference room, adequate booking rooms and least expensive. Kubatana primary school was also chosen.

Visits to inspect rehearsals

The organizing team visited potential edutainment performers to inspect their acts. The schools are Maulana primary, David Livingstone primary, Mbare Salvation Army band, Glenview primary school and Kubatana primary. The acts are poetry, drama, traditional dance and music.

Selection of peer education candidates

The existing Community Protection Committees (CPCs) were tasked to select people who were aged between 16 and 45. The potential candidates were also supposed to be fluent in the English language. Schools and universities were also informed to select some candidates. There were sixty short listed candidates. These were then interviewed and 37 were taken aboard. The details of peer educators are tabulated below:

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