What is HIV and AIDS?

Before you begin mainstreaming
Before embarking on HIV and AIDS mainstreaming activities in your placement, it is
important to first understand the local context. This does not have to involve a formal
assessment, but it is important to spend time understanding what the gaps are, how
much support is available for HIV mainstreaming work, attitudes towards HIV and any
support/resources both financial and technical that are available locally that you can
draw upon. This can be done informally in the first few months, as you begin to
familiarise yourself with the local environment and your role.
1) Key Questions to Assess Yourself
Questions Issues and Activities
Do you feel comfortable talking It is ok not to feel comfortable conducting the training and
openly with men/boys and activities yourself. Consider using colleagues or people from
women/girls about sexual and health other organisations. You can facilitate external trainers and
matters?
speakers and make materials available.
How well do you speak Chinese or Discussion of sensitive or sexual issues is better conducted
the local language?
in people’s first language. If you work with a national
volunteer, you can facilitate sessions together or alternatively
ask colleagues to support the discussion. In some cases,
people may feel more comfortable speaking with a foreigner
about these issues and can be more open. You can decide
the best approach to use once you have assessed the
environment.
Do you have enough knowledge You can use this manual as a starting point as well as the list
about HIV & AIDS and related of websites for more information. You can also use the VSO
sexual health issues, or at least Moodle site and contact the HIV and AIDS team at the
have access to such information? Programme Office for technical support. There may be local
organisations, that can support you and government
agencies like the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and local
health bureaus. There is a lot of information out there. Don’t
feel pressured to be an expert, do what you feel you are
comfortable with and ask for external support if needed.
How much time can you allocate to Decide on how much time you can realistically dedicate to
HIV and AIDS mainstreaming? HIV mainstreaming work. Can you support the organisation
in holding a World AIDS Day event? Or a longer term
commitment such as developing and delivering training with
your colleagues?
Who is your target group? Do you Work with people that you will have an on-going relationship
have contact with a particular group
of people e.g. students, women,
farmers, nurses, teachers etc?
with and experience of working with.
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