School Health Education to Prevent AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) : Teachers' Guide (UNESCO - WHO, 1994, 117 p.): Unit 4. Care and support: 3 Why compassion?

School Health Education to Prevent AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) : Teachers' Guide (UNESCO - WHO, 1994, 117 p.)

Unit 4. Care and support

		(introduction...)
		1 Who discriminates? - Definition and case studies
		2 The story of two communities - Two communities react differently to someone with AIDS
		3 Why compassion? - Explores reasons for compassion
		4 What could you do? - Compassion for two people with AIDS
		5 How to’s of care giving - Information on how to care for someone with AIDS
		6 How to keep yourself safe - Precautionary care for someone who is looking after someone with AIDS
		7 What do you know? - Two tests to determine what students know about caregiving
		8 Support for responsible behaviour - How to show support for someone who has made healthy decisions
		9 Compassion, tolerance and support - Showing support outside the classroom

3 Why compassion? - Explores reasons for compassion

Purpose

People who have compassion towards themselves and others are very much needed in this society. Understanding why compassion is important is the first step.

What the teacher does

1. Decide how to teach this activity.

a) Provide an activity sheet for each student and have them complete the activity individually, in pairs, or in small groups.
b) Read the three reasons for being compassionate and ask students for other reasons. Add these to the list. Then ask students to select the two that are most important to them (only one activity sheet is needed).
c) Place the students in small groups and provide one activity sheet for each group. Have them add to the list and then each group member selects the two that are most important to them.

2. Ask the students for other reasons for being compassionate. Add these to the list. Some possibilities might be:

· We have a moral duty to care for sick people
· They are a minority and are therefore discriminated against
· They are often rejected by people who care for the sick
· They are often very young to be dying
· They are often rejected by family and friends
· It feels nice to help or care for someone
· It will help you overcome your own fears of death and AIDS

3. Discuss the question under “Teacher asks”. Suggested answers are provided below.

Why is it difficult for some people to show compassion?

· They have had a lot of pain themselves and are only able to look after themselves
· They only think about themselves
· They don’t know how to be compassionate
· They are afraid to be compassionate