STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES TO DRIVE POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
World Learning programs empower young people to protect themselves from HIV.
Overview The impact of the AIDS epidemic reaches beyond health and collides with almost every sector of society, increasing the vulnerability of children, threatening the socioeconomic
HIV/AIDS
stability of families, and diminishing the capacity of communities to thrive. More than 30 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with HIV, and many more are affected by the consequences of the disease. A number of factors continue to fuel the AIDS epidemic, including: lack of basic education; gender inequality, rigid social norms, and gender-based violence; limited access to health care, particularly sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls; poor availability of complete and accurate prevention information; and poverty and lack of economic opportunities. These factors are compounded by AIDS-related stigma and discrimination, human rights violations, and harmful policies that often exclude groups most in need of prevention and care services.
Approach World Learning joined the global fight against the AIDS pandemic in 1990. Our work has been guided by the philosophy that HIV prevention requires multi-sectoral approaches and must consider the needs of the most marginalized. Moreover, World Learning believes that lasting social change requires strong local leadership, and we design our HIV/AIDS interventions to empower people and strengthen local institutions.
World Learning is a nonprofit organization that advances leadership through education, exchange, and development programs in more than 60 countries.
World Learning HIV prevention programs foster
but I had the support of one of my friends here.
meaningful engagement among diverse stake-
I remembered the things we learned during the
holders through efforts that include leading
HIV prevention activities, especially the ones
task forces and working groups, and building
about the bridge we have to cross to reach
strategic partnerships to enhance the impact of
our dreams and future plans, and how we can
policies and programs that assist individuals,
achieve them despite obstacles and challenges
communities, and organizations.
with the right support… Looking back, I know it was the right decision.”
World Learning implements a variety of HIV/AIDS
- Bemvinda
interventions, including behavioral prevention
17-year-old student in Angola, who
activities that encourage individuals to adopt
participated in a peer education program
and maintain behaviors that reduce the risk of contracting HIV; structural prevention activities that engage government and civil society to create a social, economic, and political environment conducive to HIV prevention; combination
“ I FOUND THE COURAGE TO TELL MY BOYFRIEND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIV AND ABOUT NOT BEING READY TO BECOME INTIMATE.”
prevention approaches that are implemented with our partners to provide comprehensive
“With our collaboration with World Learning, tre-
HIV prevention services; and support for orphans
mendous results have been achieved in building
and vulnerable children that improve their access
the ministry’s capacity to integrate HIV preven-
to healthcare, education, emotional support, and
tion programs into the workplace. We need to
counseling services. These approaches are re-
further intensify our work and put sustainable
flected in our HIV portfolio, which encompasses
systems in place to make sure that not only are
programming such as workplace HIV prevention,
workplaces safe from HIV transmission, but that
stigma and discrimination reduction, peer out-
care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS
reach and education, HIV policy advocacy, grants
among our workers are strengthened.”
management, and livelihood strengthening and
- Gossay Mengistu
economic empowerment.
Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy
Testimonials “I found the courage to tell my boyfriend I was concerned about HIV and about not being ready
Contact
to become intimate… When he left, I felt hurt,
hivaids@worldlearning.org
1015 15th St, NW Seventh Floor Washington, DC 20005
It is the policy of World Learning to provide equal employment and educational opportunities for all persons regardless of age, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, physical or learning ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran’s status, or any other legally protected status.
Phone Fax Email
+202 408-5420 +202 408-5397 development@worldlearning.org
www.worldlearning.org/hivaids
World Learning and its circle design, School for International Training, SIT, and The Experiment in International Living and its infinity design are registered trademarks of World Learning Inc. The U.S. Experiment in International Living is a trademark of World Learning Inc. © 2013. All Rights Reserved
13.IDEP15F