“Window of Love,” Hanoi’s first sexuality education café, provides youths with consultation and counseling services on issues pertaining to sex and HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS Situation in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the development of HIV/AIDS has been very dramatic. By the end of 2000, there were over 160,000 cases of infections. Adolescents and young people account for more than 50% of the HIV cases in the country. Teenagers are likely to be ignorant on the issues of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health because sex education is nonexistent both in schools and households because of cultural taboos. However, premarital sex is becoming more widespread, increasing the risk of infection. Reaching out to the youth population, therefore, has become a top priority to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Opening of Window of Love
Window of Love opened its doors in Hanoi in 1999, following the success that a café in Ho Chi Minh City had distributing condoms and providing advice. It is funded by the Vietnam National AIDS Committee and a German organization. The café provides a venue for reaching out to teenagers and providing them with education, an important preventative weapon against HIV/AIDS. Young people in Hanoi commonly spend time in cafés talking with their friends, so Window of Love offers a comfortable, inconspicuous atmosphere in which teenagers can freely discuss issues that their parents and teachers are too embarrassed to address.
Services and Counseling at the Café
At Window of Love, HIV/AIDS counselors and doctors specializing in reproductive health are at hand to answer questions about sex, sexually transmitted diseases, and other health related issues. Some physicians are female in order to ensure that all visitors can feel comfortable talking to someone about their health. The services and education provided are anonymous and most young people are able to discuss their problems on a one-to-one basis. On average, Window of Love receives 50 customers between the ages of 16 and 24 every day. Manager Duong Thuy Hang notes that “the number of young people coming here is increasing daily.” Most of the teenagers who visit the café learn about it through their friends.
Impact of Window of Love
Window of Love has already helped many teenagers, most of whom are ignorant of HIV/AIDS and its effects when they first come to the café. For example, one female university student arrived fearing that she was pregnant because she had had unprotected sex with her boyfriend. The doctor and counselor at Window of Love gave her information about what to do. They also told her about the transmission and impact of HIV/AIDS, which she did not know about, and how she could protect herself. By offering information to young people like this university student, Window of Love is working to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in Hanoi.
Using common public spaces to discuss taboo topics can effectively address cultural constraints. In Hanoi, the "Window of Love" initiative succeeded by creating a comfortable environment for youth, who frequently gather in cafés. This tactic isn't limited to young people; it can benefit women, sex workers, and homeless individuals. The topics addressed can extend beyond sex and HIV/AIDS to include issues like drug abuse, poverty, sex trafficking, child labor, and domestic violence. Key considerations include choosing accessible venues, ensuring confidentiality, and obtaining community and government support for funding. Additionally, the program must provide quality education; it gains popularity through word of mouth when participants find the information valuable enough to share.
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