What to Expect

      During the 2006 summer program, two teaching groups comprising eight IAPA volunteers taught along side four Indian counterparts at the Karappakam Panchayat school in Karapakkam, outside of Chennai. They taught standards ranging from 7th through 10th over a period of six weeks, with several hundred of students eventually being taught in the time period. The volunteers integrated traditional lecture techniques with non-traditional activities, role playing, and games to increase the participation of the students. While the volunteers were challenged by the number of students and sometimes by their excited behavior, they did an outstanding job at teaching the concepts of HIV transmission and prevention, as was evident by the students continued participation and increased knowledge of the subject. The volunteers were touched by the students and the area of Karappakam, and the passion in which the school and the students showed for their contributions.

2. Thoraippakkam

      Around half of the IAPA volunteers taught at a government high school called Thoraipakam Secondary School for the entirety of the time in Chennai. They first taught 200 9th graders for three weeks, and then concluded with 200 10th graders for two more weeks. The purpose was to teach these students the IAPA curriculum in the most effective way possible, which through experimentation turned out to be through activities. Though at times the volunteers were challenged with the lively behavior of the young students, they were rewarded at the end when they could identify the marked improvement in their understanding of HIV and its prevention mechanisms. The volunteers were touched by quite a few students who were thoroughly excited and passionate about the IAPA teachings. Since Thoraipakam is a Tamil medium school, future plans would include using more translators in order to reduce the class sizes, which would be essential to building a more personal relationship with the students.

3. Crescent

      The Crescent School is a private international boarding school for male students of all standards. IAPA volunteers specifically taught standards 9, 11, and 12, as well as also having a rare opportunity to teach faculty and staff at the school. Each standard was taught the entire IAPA curriculum and was very interested in learning more about HIV/AIDS, as well as the life and times of American young adults. The students oftentimes flooded us with all kinds of questions and scenarios and their enthusiasm was ever-so encouraging. We hope to have given the students there not only a strong educational background on HIV/AIDS, but we also hope to have those students talk amongst themselves to help reinforce ideas and keep themselves safe from the virus. Their willingness and desire to know more was amazing, and they felt special knowing that we came all the way from America not to tell them what to do, but to inform them, and hope they make the right choices.

4. Colleges (College for the Deaf, Arts and Sciences, etc.)

      During the 2006 summer program, IAPA aligned with the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TNSACS) and their student organization the Red Ribbon Club to teach in universities around Chennai. In their collaboration with the Red Ribbon Club, IAPA volunteers were given the opportunity to teach at three universities over the period of three weeks. The universities taught at include:

• St. Louis School for the Deaf
• Chettinad Vidyashram School
• Kumararani College