Using Football to Support an HIV/AIDS Education Initiative in Honduras

This chapter explores the implementation of a 2006 sport-based HIV/AIDS education initiative within Garífuna communities in Honduras, developed by Samaritan&s;s Purse. It begins by examining the historical, socio-political, and cultural contexts of Honduras, including the distinct identity of the Garífuna and their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS due to social and behavioural conditions. The chapter details the use of football as an educational tool to help engage young people in discussions about HIV transmission, prevention, and societal attitudes. The initiative integrated sport into a broader educational framework, addressing knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behavioural change. Despite its potential capacity to mobilise participation, challenges such as language barriers, cultural sensitivities, and potential distractions from the sport itself were identified. The chapter concludes with reflections on the limitations of managing sport-based interventions in addressing deep-rooted health issues, emphasising the need for evidence-based, locally driven, and interdisciplinary approaches to achieve sustainable change.