Today has been a quite busy day as we were running two parallel programmes. One in the STOP AIDS NOW! Booth and one in the Networking Zone. The extra space that the Networking Zone provided gave us the opportunity to welcome even more participants. Again the partners did a very good job and gave some interesting presentations. Below we will highlight some of them.
STOP AIDS NOW! development project “Managing HIV and AIDS in the workplace"
Some partners involved in the STOP AIDS NOW! development project “Managing HIV and AIDS in the workplace” shared their experiences during an interactive session. Passing participants were triggered with questions regarding HIV and AIDS in their own workplace. Some of the questions were: Is your workplace stigma free? Can you openly discuss HIV in your workplace? Do you know your status? Afterwards the participants were asked join us in a debate which was facilitated by the project coordinator from Uganda. During the discussion everyone recognised the workplace to be an important venue for HIV interventions. At the same time very often HIV and AIDS is still considered to be an issue that affects others and not your own internal organisation. The audience found it unfair to convince others of the importance of addressing HIV in the workplace when the own organisation itself does no have one. Possible reasons why NGOs and businesses do not have a policy were discussed. The following main reasons were named: lack of leadership, lack of resources, lack of technical expertise and capacity. The workplace was seen as a great opportunity for Universal Access. Everyone agreed that workplace interventions create an enabling environment to deal with stigma.
SENDAS & Instituto para el Desarollo Humano
Ecuador & Bolivia, partners of ICCO
Thirty young people gathered during two sessions organised by SENDAS from Ecuador and Instituto para el Desarollo Humano from Bolivia about how inform people about sexual health. Parents, pastors, other youth and even teachers are reluctant to talk about the subject. The organisations argue that the right approach is to start breaking the silence and open up the dialogue. Fact is that many people are not well informed, therefore it is important to ask an talk to as many people as possible. In small groups IDH practiced this at the spot. The participants had a lot of fun during the condom presentation and the role plays.
AIDS Foundation East West
Tajikistan, partner of Oxfam Novib
Ikrom Ibragimov showed us a video that illustrated AFEW´s working field and their activities. Although Tajikistan is one of the largest providers of heroine Injecting Drug Users are discriminated, ignored and criminalised. In fact the government turns a blind eye to their problems and Harm Reduction Programmes are not very well received. AFEW is trying to improve the situation by lobbying government institutions, fighting stigma and discrimination and providing trainings to health care givers.
STOP AIDS NOW! development project "Orphans and Vulnerable Children"
Justin Maxwell, the local coordinator of the STOP AIDS NOW! development project "Orphans and vulnerable Children" invited the audience to play the 4LifeGame with him. Each participant was challenged to solve one of the four presented problem scenarios. During the game each contestant collected resource cards which could help them to find the solution to one of the posed problems. The first one to present a comprehensive solution to one of the scenarios would be the winner. In order to gain the right set of resources participants were allowed to exchange cards at the market place. The game confronted the contestants with common challenges which many NGOs face on a regular basis. By playing the game one learns that it is very important to have a clear strategy, have a good planning, cooperate with others and learn from each other.
