A health promotion curriculum for adolescent young citizens: deliberation and public action for HIV/AIDS-competent communities.

Implementation of the Young Citizens Program (YCP), a health promotion intervention, is reported. In this paper we highlight the YCP in a study designed to address HIV/AIDS community competence in northern Tanzania. Adolescents, ages 10-14, participated in a 28 week scripted, modular curriculum in which they acquired skills as health agents to educate and mobilize their communities in coordination with local government. Rooted in theories of capability and communicative action, the curriculum introduces exercises to promote cognitive and social skills, such as critical thinking, preference-ranking and participatory drama. The curriculum guides participants through a series of five modules in which group formation, understanding the geopolitical organization of their neighborhoods, knowledge about HIV/AIDS and shared social action are pursued. Implementation is achieved through sessions facilitated by young adult team members in classroom and community sessions, which are also attended by local elected leaders. Indicators of programmatic success in implementing the YCP are discussed.