Kiribati: Lifeskills and Rights Training Helps Prepare Women to take to the Sea“At the life skills training we learnt about transmission, prevention and what HIV and AIDS means. We were told how to protect ourselves and use a condom,” The first class of seafaring women to graduate form Kiribati’s Marine Training Centre (MTC) these young women know about and understand how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and how the use of a condom can help protect against transmission. Kiribati is one of the first countries in the Pacific to begin training women seafarers. The 15 young women who were accepted into the MTC to become catering stewards on international shipping lines took part in the first large community consultation for seafarers wives and families, as a part of their studies at MTC. Traditionally men have dominated the overseas jobs being offered to graduates from the MTC. There are 46 registered cases of HIV/AIDS in Kiribati. However when the World Health Organisations multiplier is applied the number of likely cases rises to 460, which, in a population of 90 000 could reap devastating effects. As a part of UNICEF Pacific’s life skills program, locally based master trainers conduct informative sessions on HIV/AIDS and safe sex for the community, with a special focus on youth aged 15-24. With the intake of the female students in July this year the master trainers, MTC and UNICFE worked together to coordinate a series of events where the wives and families of seafarers and the new female cadets could openly discuss sexually transmitted diseases, safe sex practices and HIV/AIDS. “The life skills was good because now we know how to protect ourselves and what AIDS” is said Diana Keaki, a MTC cadet. The discussions, which came out of the life skills sessions, were powerful, moving and open as wives of seafarers and the female MTC recruits shared their emotions and concerns. It is hoped that with the MTC seeking to recruit more women next year into their program, that HIV/AIDS awareness amongst women and girls in Kiribati can improve with more education, awareness and discussion. UNICEF Pacific is working in partnership with the MTC to help prepare its cadets for life at sea and understand the health risks involved with unprotected sex. The MTC is a critical partner in the life skills program as its young cadets will be traveling the world aboard international shipping vessels. The MTC has also been highly supportive of UNICEF providing gender awareness and rights training to its female cadets as yet another way of assisting in preparing the young men and women for their 11 months at sea once they have graduated. “Their future looks very bright” Says Mr Beeri Tebau, Chief Catering Officer at MTC who was charged with training the women. “It is something new and different. At first I had my doubts but now I think it is better than good that we have taught the women.”
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