Dr Helen Cahill wins University Knowledge Partnership Excellence award
2 August 2010
Congratulations to Dr Helen Cahill from the Youth Research Centre, who has won a University Knowledge Partnership Excellence award in recognition of her outstanding work on the Creating Connections project.
Creating Connections is designed to help tackle the spread of HIV in South East Asia by teaching women and girls about all aspects of sex. The project started in Vietnam, establishing clubs for women and girls, where a year-long curriculum encourages open dialogue on issues relating to sex, HIV prevention and gender rights. The intention is twofold: for mothers to develop the confidence to have these discussions at home, particularly with their children; and for adolescent girls to be prepared to negotiate these matters well in their own future relationships.
The program has been so successful in Vietnam, UNICEF has identified it as good practice and is now rolling out a four-country trial in other South East Asian countries
In partnership with UNICEF, the project team is now working with partners in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Nepal to find culturally appropriate ways to introduce Creating Connections. Following the Vietnam model, the projects will be run by the Women’s Unions or Ministries of Women’s affairs in these countries, simultaneously building capacity within these organisations.
For more information visit www.education.unimelb.edu.au/yrc