THERE is a movement afoot in primary schools across the island, as students become advocates and ambassadors for HIV and AIDS awareness, thanks to the efforts of Scotiabank.

More than 1,000 student debaters who participated in the bank’s “Speak Up, Speak Out” education programme are now able to provide peer counselling on the subject to their colleagues in school.

“They have gone a step further to take on the challenge of speaking with their parents and other adults in their families and communities about HIV and AIDS and anti-discrimination,” said Scotiabank in a release to Career & Education.

Since 2006, the bank has been engaged primary school students in an intense, year-long student HIV and AIDS education programme which sees them undertaking extensive research on the topic, spending hours discussing the issues, visiting people affected by the disease and volunteering in facilities that care for people living with HIV.

The programme has also provided a unique outlet of expression for children to openly discuss issues of sexual health.

“The bank has made it possible for them to ‘speak up and speak out’ at peer seminars, school devotions, parents-teachers meetings, and community meetings where they conduct outreach activities,” noted Scotia in the release.

Two-time winners Corinaldi Avenue Primary School in Montego Bay demonstrated their full grasp of the anti-discrimination message by visiting The Hope Hospice for persons living with HIV and AIDS in Montego Bay to donate care items.

“The students have certainly learnt a lot from the debates and have taken the experience on a personal level and decided to visit an AIDS hospice in Montego Bay,” said Vivienne Morrison, coach of the Corinaldi Avenue Primary debating team, in the release. “I felt so proud of them when they said that they wanted to gather food and clothing items and take to the home. They initiated the activity and then invited other students in the school community to join them.”

As the Corinaldi coach noted, other students have been moved to play a role and want their own voices to be heard on issues of HIV/AIDS.

“The students even went into the popular dance session “Passa Passa” with the guidance of their teachers to distribute reading material on safe-sex condoms,” said Debbie Clue, manager of the “Speak Up, Speak Out” programme at Scotiabank.

Winners of the 2008 season of debates, Wilmington Primary School have seen a revolutionary change in their students who have challenged the old saying, “children should be seen and not heard”.

“In their small rural community, they are now much more visible and are willing to share their views on these issues, setting an example in the community. We are so proud of this team who, outside of the debate, were once very shy and reserved students,” said Joylene Griffiths Irving, director of public and corporate affairs at Scotiabank.

The Scotiabank “Speak Up, Speak Out” programme, which has been running for the past three years, has engaged more than 300 schools and impacted the lives of more than 30,000 children in the school system.

The bank will launch a new season of debates in February 2010. Schools are invited to register to participate by visiting Scotiabank’s website or by calling the bank’s public and corporate affairs department.

While the debating competition is the largest component of the programme, Scotiabank also hosts parenting seminars, a one-day personal development summer camp for children, as well as provide funding to the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission to support the expression of HIV and AIDS awareness through the performing arts.