Making a drama out of Aids

"I remember the Aids scare in the late 1980s. All the kids at school were talking about it as though it was the terrible lergy you could get just by touching. They'd say cruel things like, 'don't touch me you might have Aids.' There was a lot of hype about it then, especially about touching anyone who was bleeding.

"But it was a taboo subject for children. We were too immature to discuss and understand such 'dirty' matters with adults.

"When I was in Year 10 at Wolgarston School, a drama group came to the school to explain about Aids in the form of a play. It seemed quite explicit at the time. One girl thought that she had contracted the HIV virus. From this we learned how a person infected with HIV gradually loses immune function and becomes vulnerable to numerous infections that can lead to to Aids. We were surprised at the depth of information they exposed our young minds to. I recall the fits of laughter, though this just masked our naivete and embarrassment at the time.

"It was a really strong message. They gave us leaflets and advice which increased our awareness and understanding. It didn't only make us aware of the dangers of Aids, but stressed that we could not contract it from toilet seats or sitting next to somebody on the bus.

"We were lucky because our teacher was only a few years older than us and certainly not old-fashioned. We could talk about it with her. In retrospect it's good that we experienced an enlightening and modern approach to Aids. I think it has given us a more sensible attitude to something so reIevant to everybody in society."