Working with TIOS Association of Mozambique (ATM)
Some of ATM´s active members and their respective duties.
The Association, TIOS /ATM , is made up of a group of community members including youths and young mothers. Its acronym T.I.O.S. is a portuguese translation for International Training on Life-skills to AIDS Orphans. Its main objective is to empower vulnerable members of the community, especially HIV/AIDS orphans. The association also supports young single mothers with training and knowledge for empowering them economically and with life skills. This includes teaching and training them on good hygiene & sanitation practices, HIV/AIDS education, income generation projects as well as personal & home safety practices.
My experience with ATM began when an acquaintance told me about the association. After visiting them, I was intrigued by their products and programs.They had simple, practical and very functional designs that would solve many basic health worries in Chimoio. Solutions for poor access to water, hygiene and sanitation and for reducing high HIV-risk behavior among others. I wondered how such great work could be unknown to so many. While working as a communication at Africare , I had gotten to know a lot of Associations in Chimoio. And yet here was ATM, less than a kilometer away from Africare offices. My interest became to help ATM get visibility. Since ATM´s income was quite low, my work with them was voluntary. I began to help out with professional advice on communication, marketing and publicity of ATM products. The major selling products at ATM were the Bio sand filter, the anatomical dolls, the 5 components of HIV training program among others:
1. The Bio-sand filter (Bsf)
The Bio -sand filter is a concrete formed apparatus that is made up of different layers of stone, pebbles, sand and a sieve aimed at biologically filtering and thus purifying water that is unsafe to drink, making it safer. The process is quite effective and if followed properly can remove more than 97% of harmful pathogens found in water. The Bio-Sand filter is a product of training and partnership with global organisations like A single drop and CAWST. A single Bsf can purify up to 20 liters of water at a time-roughly 90 liters a day. One has to pour in water into the filter and let it run through downwards and then rise upwards to come out as drops through a spout fitted into it. One has to wait until all the water has run through before adding more. The Bsf is ideal in Mozambique since clean and safe water is hard to find and water related illnesses are common both in the cities and rural/remote areas. The challenge in Mozambique is not that there is no water, it is that the water available is not safe to drink. In some cases those who are sick even take tablets using unclean water. Most drink water direct from shallow well and slow flowing streams which are used by others to dispose filth in.With the Bsf , the large reserve of water available for a given household can be purified and made safer to drink and use for other domestic purposes. The youth at ATM and myself included are trained Bsf technicians,through CAWST, skilled to construct, prepare and install a Bsf. ATM is one of CAWST´s success stories
click here to view Bsf poster
Anatomical dolls.
ATM has a unique collection of cloth/rag dolls that are anatomical. In other words they have human physical appearance which includes the male and female sexual organs and the anus. They are designed especially for HIV training as a way to help illustrate HIV transmission, prevention and other related issues. The dolls serve to combat the way sexual issues are portrayed as taboo in Mozambican culture and thus not openly talked about. Through using the dolls a puppet show can be compose to illustrate various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. The male dolls have little condoms, also for easier illustration. During training through the ATM 5 Components of HIV/AIDS transmission course, the dolls can be used by participants to create different scenarios of high or low risk behavior and this helps create talk around the topic and at the same time dispelling myths and stereotypes. More information about ATM activities please click here
click here to view Anatomical dolls and the 5 components of HIV training program
© site developed by Santino Zhakata
2011
Page last updated: 08 March. 2014
My experience with ATM began when an acquaintance told me about the association. After visiting them, I was intrigued by their products and programs.They had simple, practical and very functional designs that would solve many basic health worries in Chimoio. Solutions for poor access to water, hygiene and sanitation and for reducing high HIV-risk behavior among others. I wondered how such great work could be unknown to so many. While working as a communication at Africare , I had gotten to know a lot of Associations in Chimoio. And yet here was ATM, less than a kilometer away from Africare offices. My interest became to help ATM get visibility. Since ATM´s income was quite low, my work with them was voluntary. I began to help out with professional advice on communication, marketing and publicity of ATM products. The major selling products at ATM were the Bio sand filter, the anatomical dolls, the 5 components of HIV training program among others:
1. The Bio-sand filter (Bsf)
The Bio -sand filter is a concrete formed apparatus that is made up of different layers of stone, pebbles, sand and a sieve aimed at biologically filtering and thus purifying water that is unsafe to drink, making it safer. The process is quite effective and if followed properly can remove more than 97% of harmful pathogens found in water. The Bio-Sand filter is a product of training and partnership with global organisations like A single drop and CAWST. A single Bsf can purify up to 20 liters of water at a time-roughly 90 liters a day. One has to pour in water into the filter and let it run through downwards and then rise upwards to come out as drops through a spout fitted into it. One has to wait until all the water has run through before adding more. The Bsf is ideal in Mozambique since clean and safe water is hard to find and water related illnesses are common both in the cities and rural/remote areas. The challenge in Mozambique is not that there is no water, it is that the water available is not safe to drink. In some cases those who are sick even take tablets using unclean water. Most drink water direct from shallow well and slow flowing streams which are used by others to dispose filth in.With the Bsf , the large reserve of water available for a given household can be purified and made safer to drink and use for other domestic purposes. The youth at ATM and myself included are trained Bsf technicians,through CAWST, skilled to construct, prepare and install a Bsf. ATM is one of CAWST´s success stories
click here to view Bsf poster
Anatomical dolls.
ATM has a unique collection of cloth/rag dolls that are anatomical. In other words they have human physical appearance which includes the male and female sexual organs and the anus. They are designed especially for HIV training as a way to help illustrate HIV transmission, prevention and other related issues. The dolls serve to combat the way sexual issues are portrayed as taboo in Mozambican culture and thus not openly talked about. Through using the dolls a puppet show can be compose to illustrate various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. The male dolls have little condoms, also for easier illustration. During training through the ATM 5 Components of HIV/AIDS transmission course, the dolls can be used by participants to create different scenarios of high or low risk behavior and this helps create talk around the topic and at the same time dispelling myths and stereotypes. More information about ATM activities please click here
click here to view Anatomical dolls and the 5 components of HIV training program
© site developed by Santino Zhakata
2011
Page last updated: 08 March. 2014