In this article, the 5S Foundation Ethiopia team share their reflections after holding a series of community theatre workshops.
While theatre is frequently recognized as a form of entertainment, it also holds significant potential as a conduit for educating the general public about intricate human health issues.
Amateur actors in the Amhara region of Ethiopia are taking to the stage, armed with knowledge about two prevalent diseases – podoconiosis and scabies, to raise awareness and disseminate crucial research findings to their communities.
The 5S Foundation Ethiopia project in collaboration with Partners in Education Ethiopia, recently held capacity-building workshops in Bahir Dar and Azena in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The aim was to equip local actors from five districts and three schools with the tools to tell compelling stories about these neglected diseases and their impact.
The workshop attendees, ten in number, were selected for their ties to the community, their involvement in established theatre clubs, and the gender balance they represented, with an equal number of men and women participating.
Over two intensive days, the participants received in-depth information about podoconiosis and scabies from researchers, Dereje Wonde and Tseganesh Mulugeta. Alongside the health education, Eyerusalem Kassahun imparted the principles of community-based and participatory theatre.
“Participants not only soaked in the information, but they also shared insights from their own communities”
-5S Ethiopia representative
This feedback loop enriched the workshop, leading to nuanced and regionally relevant performances that explored local misconceptions and stigmas associated with the diseases.
Ensuring continuity
To ensure the training’s continuity and to foster ongoing collaboration, a Telegram group was created for the participants and trainers. Additionally, 5S inked agreements with theatre clubs from the five districts, promising a series of community theatre performances.
The training was also replicated for teachers and students in Azena and Gimja Bet attracting 40 participants, fostering a new generation of health-aware theatre practitioners.
5S Foundation is optimistic that this unique fusion of theatre and healthcare education will significantly enhance community understanding of podoconiosis and scabies, helping to dispel the stigma and misconceptions associated with these diseases.
By taking research findings from scholarly journals to the community stage, 5S Foundation and its newly trained theatre activists will be expected to revolutionize public health engagement in the Amhara region as well as nationally.
With every performance, they will make complex health information accessible and relatable to their audience, turning the spotlight on diseases that have for too long remained in the shadows.
