HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign through Sports in Yangon: The Pioneering Service-Learning Program of Dagon University, Myanmar

Abstract

Rapid sports programs and activities have served as an avenue to unify people of diverse backgrounds and persuasions. More than promoting national or local pride and contributing to friendship, sportsmanship and social unity, sports also serves as a tool to popularize certain advocacies. Dagon University in Myanmar took advantage of this value of sports when it implemented “Playing Football, Learning HIV AIDS”, ―A Football for Development” program, a pioneering Service-Learning Program focused on utilizing football training activities as a tool for social action through HIV/AIDS information and education campaign for school children in 2015. In a country where about 220 000 people are living with HIV/AIDS, including 77 000 women, sports can be used for social action to increase awareness. This paper looks into the pioneering effort of the university and how sport for social action can be expanded to further promote peace and development.

Keywords

• HIV/AIDS awareness
• Sports in service learning
• Yangon