Flow’s graphic designers, journalists and programmers recently developed a website for the Sonke Gender Justice Network to showcase Protection, an educational film about HIV/AIDS.
The documentary film, made by award-winning South African filmmaker Francois Verster and producer Neil Brand and his team at Fireworx Media, aims to raise awareness of condom use as a strategy to help men and boys avoid HIV infection.
The project forms a part of the Sonke Gender Justice Network’s programme to promote gender equality, prevent domestic and sexual violence, and reduce the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
While much messaging around HIV/AIDS is focused on the sexual empowerment of women, Protection focuses specifically on the experiences of men and boys, identifying the challenges they face due to cultural and peer pressures surrounding condom use.
Protection explores some of the complex issues related to condom use and how the dangers posed by sexually transmitted illnesses and HIV/AIDS are dealt with in different ways by men and boys living in South Africa, Kenya and Sierra Leone.
The film tackles misinformation and prejudices surrounding condom use, and aims to serve as a resource for organisations working to empower men and boys in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
As Flow’s content consolidator, Miliswa Sitshwele, explains: “It’s only by working on sites like this one – which gets really up close and personal with HIV/AIDS – that we learn more about this shocking disease. I hope that NGOs all over Africa get to see this film.”
Flow Communications was contracted by Fireworx Media to produce a website with the dual aim of publicising the film and serving as an online HIV/AIDS resource.
The website is packed with information about accessing the film and how to view it, information about HIV/AIDS, educational material relating to condom use, and links to resources and organisations involved in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Its resources can be used as teaching tools to educate people about the dangers of sexual ignorance and unprotected sex.
Once the filmmakers had seen and signed off a mock-up of the website that was presented by Flow’s graphic designers, it took just six weeks for Flow’s programmers and journalists to translate the concept into a top-class online offering.
Graphic designer Lorraine Gumede says the design of the Protection website was inspired primarily by rich African textures.
“I really enjoyed working on this project, especially since HIV/AIDS has such an impact on the health sector of Southern Africa,” says Lorraine. “This DVD will become a vital tool for creating awareness.”
Says Flow programmer Tumelo Mphafe: “Besides the inside scoop of getting to see the movie before everyone else, I found it quite informative and enlightening regarding how people in different places understand and deal with the scourge of HIV/AIDS.”