AIDS education video: Karate Kids.

Street Kids International in cooperation with the World Health Organization and the National Film Board of Canada has developed an animated action-adventure video "Karate Kids" as part of a cross-cultural program of health education that concerns human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and targets street children in developing countries. Simple but explicit information is delivered during the 22-minute cartoon; the package also includes a training book for educators and a pocket comic book. Distributed in 17 languages (it is readily adapted to new language versions independent of the original producers) in over 100 countries the video is shown in community theaters hospitals schools and prisons and out of the backs of trucks. It is easily copied which is encouraged. After 3 years in distribution field evaluation has demonstrated that the greatest strength of the video is its ability to stimulate discussion where no discussion was taking place before. Critics include those who believe there is no need for it and those who feel it should be used alone. The results of one evaluation study showed use of the video alone was insufficient; those of a cross-cultural participatory evaluation survey indicated a significant impact on knowledge and attitudes when the video was followed by discussion. Another significant aspect of the project is that it treats street children with respect; they are actors not victims who have legitimate needs and rights. They become visible in a world that is often unaware of them.