The Hostel Monologues: raising real life issues for debate.

Would you forgive your boyfriend if he got you pregnant and then denied it? If you were sexually assaulted would you tell? Would you be believed? How far would you go to be popular? These are some of the questions sparking heated debate amongst the teenage audiences of The Hostel Monologues.

The production, a series of four monologues, explores the challenges of hostel life through the eyes of characters who deal with issues common to young people today. Audience members are asked to consider peer pressure, bullying, fitting in, rape, rumours, friendship, popularity, and of course, sex.

Promoting critical debate

The Hostel Monologues, which began in March 2006, is an effort of the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO). The goal of OYO is to reduce the spread of HIV in Namibia by working with young people to promote discussion and understanding of HIV and other social issues that affect them.

According to Evelina Ashipala, OYO's Operations Manager, "People in Namibia know about HIV/Aids and its causes, but the rate of infection is still not slowing down. Whether that is because more people are being tested or because there are more infections is unclear, but infection rates are still high." Evelina believes that The Hostel Monologues addresses the pressures that lead to high risk behaviours in a way that engages and entertains the audience, making them think, laugh and debate.

Breaking with stereotypes

The play was written through a series of workshops with vulnerable youth from various parts of Namibia, and the stories and issues presented ring true. In Rumour Has It, after having unprotected sex with her boyfriend, Mr. Sixpack, a young woman hears rumours that he is HIV positive. In Virgin Pumpkin, a young man impregnates his girlfriend and is forced to deal with the consequences of his actions. Bread and Jam shows the struggle a boy goes through in dealing with sexual assault, and Lucy Bum Bum portrays a girl who takes up some bad habits in order to fit in with a popular crowd. The power of these stories lies in their portrayal of the complexities of young life and the multiple challenges that teens and young adults confront every day. The monologues also break from stereotypical gender roles, portraying a male victim of sexual assault and a female 'player', a young woman who uses men for sex.

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Challenging taboos through laughter

Evelina told Sister Namibia that the monologues engage the audience, mostly students and young people, in a dialogue with the characters that would not be possible in another format. "Sometimes the audience will laugh, or giggle, especially in Bread and Jam where a boy is assaulted by a woman, but I think this is because they are confronted with an issue that they do not normally talk about. The laughter is a way for them to deal with an uncomfortable situation."

The monologues are always followed by a series of questions designed to get the audience members talking and these discussions can develop into heated debates. Evelina reports that the girls in the audience are often more vocal than the boys, as young women wrestle with the issues that have a huge impact on their lives. Do you believe the rumour or the man you love? Does he really love you if he won't wear a condom? What are you willing to do to be popular? How do you deal with a bully? Do people change?

The Hostel Monologues provides no easy answers, but engages the audience to tackle controversial social issues and to come up with their own answers. Since The Hostel Monologues began touring in Namibia, over 6000 people have seen the show. A film version of The Hostel Monologues is currently in production and will soon be available for distribution to schools and organisations working with youth.

For more information on The Hostel Monologues or OYO's other projects, visit www.ombetja.org