18th August 2005
International Projects Update

Ghana
POSTEP-Ghana

Renound for the snow-capped majesty of Kilimanjaro, the beautiful land of Tanzania in East Africa is also a country battling against the impact of HIV. Since 1990 however a spirited group of local women based in the town of Moshi have been at the forefront of tackling the disease, providing practical care and support to children who have lost parents to HIV as well as a range of educational programmes and income generating activities.

Through direct financial aid from our supporters in Scotland, Kiwakukki are currently supporting 40 disadvantaged young people in obtaining Secondary School education, and sponsoring a further 8 in receiving vocational training which will allow them to earn an income and support their families. Many of these children have been orphaned due to HIV, and without this support would descend into poverty, unable to support themselves and their siblings.

An example of one such orphan is Neema Pantaleo. Neema, who has lost both parents in recent years, faced an uncertain future before the intervention of Kiwakukki. With little education and few skills, Neema had little hope of obtaining employment, and as the oldest of 3 children has younger siblings to support as well as herself. As Neema did not have any educational record Kiwakukki was unable help her obtain a place at Secondary School, however she is now taking part in vocational training, giving her an advantage in Tanzania’s competitive employment market. Kiwakukki have also helped her obtain food for her family from the World Food Programme.

In Malawi, Positive Steps-Malawi supports people affected by poverty and HIV by providing education and training programmes, care and support initiatives for widows and orphans, and establishing income generating activities. These initiatives, such as sustainable farming, are helping people escape from the tragic cycle of poverty and despair to which so many in Malawi often succumb.

Following the success of the ATP Workshop in Scotland in May, a new Project Officer has been recruited to lead the delivery of Positive Steps-Malawi’s health education programmes. Already the ATP is being used to train youth group leaders in the delivery of Sexual Health Education, and several new initiatives are also being developed using the new resources.

An estimated 1.5 million people in Thailand are infected with the HIV virus, facing a daunting array of problems, including inability to work, lack of appropriate health care, prejudice and ostracism. In this troubled land ACET Thailand offer compassionate care to people affected by HIV, as well as educational and awareness training programmes.

Over recent months ACET Thailand have continued their work in encouraging and supporting local churches throughout Thailand in meeting the needs of people affected by HIV. ACET Thailand are encouraged to see how the attitudes of church leaders towards people living with HIV has changed in recent years, with more church leaders than ever before responding to ACET Thailand’s call to improve the lives of sufferers and their families.

In Singburi Province one church leader in particular, Pastor Banjob, has been an inspiration in his compassion for people living with HIV. Pastor Banjob, who has been involved with ACET Thailand’s outreach work for some time, has accepted the challenge of leading ACET Thailand’s work in the Province. Since being approached by the Thai government in 2003 to work in the province, work in Singburi has expanded rapidly, and is now an extensive home care project providing practical care and support to hundreds of people, including sufferers and their families. Self-Help groups for people affected by HIV have also been established in four hospitals, and Pastor Banjob has plans to take this work forward over coming months.

Other events in Thailand recently have included the annual ‘Streams of Blessing retreat’, where over 70 people shared in their experiences of working with people with HIV and AIDS. The retreat was a great success, with many of those attending taking the opportunity to share with others their new found Christian faith.


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India
Positive Steps India projects

Positive Steps supports many projects throughout India, amongst the most exiting being Prabhat Tara Sanstha, SABALA, and SEVA.

In the district of Miraj, Southern India, the Prahbat Tara Sanstha project is concerned with the rights of Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) and their families. Prahbat Tara Sanstha provides CSWs, many of whom are highly impoverished women, with food, counselling and access to medical care. Children are also encouraged to attend school, and Prahbat Tara Sanstha advocates on behalf of CSW families and campaigns on their behalf. Prahbat Tara Sanstha has recently expanded the scope of its activities in Maraj, and now provides free school meals and midday to over 250 children. The Home of Hope orphanage, established by Prahbat Tara Sanstha, now houses more than 30 young girls who have been orphaned by HIV, or who were considered to be at risk in the outside community.

In the state of Andhra Pradesh, SABALA is working for the empowerment of youths and women in slum areas through the formation of Self-Help groups and awareness raising activities drawing attention to the issues they face, including violence against women and child trafficking. SABALA has recently appointed Village Health Chiefs to supervise, educate and take timely action on health matters on their villages

The SEVA project, in Adoni, aims to raise awareness of HIV / AIDS issues through formal education programmes and the training of community leaders. The SEVA project has recently established 2 childcare centres in impoverished villages to ensure that young children are cared for when parents and siblings are working.