WHAT started out as a debating competition to educate children about HIV/AIDS, blossomed into a movement in which people of all ages were empowered to voice their concerns on a range of healthy lifestyle issues, and learned many important lessons in the process.

But after completing its fourth year, Scotiabank Group last Friday called time on its popular Speak Up! Speak Out! education programme, stating that it had completed its objective of sensitising thousands of youngsters and their families about HIV/AIDS, and armed them with the skills and confidence to make their views known.

“When we started (in 2006) some schools figured this was too much of a mature subject for children of primary school age, while others felt this was what they needed to bring the (Ministry of Health’s education) programme alive,” Scotiabank’s director of public and corporate affairs Joylene Griffiths Irving told Career and Education.

But history has absolved Scotiabank, as the institution cites a number of achievements which will last long after the programme ends. These include:

*Over $60 million spent executing the programme over four years

*Increased knowledge of HIV/AIDS among students

*At least 36,000 students from grades three to six participated in 813 debates

*More than 100 schools participated consistently over the four years

*Increased awareness of HIV/AIDS in communities

*Reduced stigmatisation of persons affected and infected

*Improved debating and research skills among students

*The building of partnerships with the schools, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, NGOs, and other partners concerned with HIV/AIDS awareness.

On the quality of the debates, the improvement over the years was phenomenal, Griffiths Irving says.

“When you hear the children who took part the debates talk, you know we connected. Their confidence levels soared when they realised there was no subject they could not touch. They became respected and recognised in their communities. In Montego Bay the winning team from Corinaldi Avenue Primary was invited to speak at the Chamber of Commerce,” she said.

“A school like Wilmington Primary (in St Thomas) was never on the map, but when they won those girls became respected in their community. The impact was that a flood of parents wanted to register their children there the next year.”

At Friday’s grand finale at the Holy Cross church hall in St Andrew, president and CEO of Scotiabank Jamaica Bruce Bowen explained that the Speak Up! Speak Out! programme was part of the institution’s long-term commitment to building a bright future for the nation’s children.

In the debate Christiana Leased Primary from Manchester defeated Boundbrook Primary from St Thomas.

They joined the three previous winners as overall champions; Hydel Preparatory in St Catherine, Corinaldi Avenue Primary and Wilmington Primary.