What is HIV and AIDS?

support the sensitisation process in ways that you feel are comfortable and
appropriate to your placement. Here are some examples of different activities you
could do:
HIV mainstreaming is a process. It will take time, energy and commitment for
sustainable changes. It does not happen overnight and although it can be frustrating
at times, persevere; the smallest changes do really make a big difference.
Possible stages of sensitisation
Stage 1 - Observe your work environment. This is important to gauge
what further mainstreaming work you can do. Learn about the
organisation’s work. Listen for any talk about HIV and AIDS. Observe
people’s attitudes to people living and affected by HIV.
Stage 2 -- Start to engage people in conversations about HIV. What do
they think? Can they easily access information about HIV? Do they feel
it is a problem for their area?
Share VSO’s HIV and AIDS Q&A booklet with the organisation you work
for. Maybe leave it in a place where all staff can access it.
Share any news articles or information about HIV with your colleagues.
Stage 3 – Speak to your organisation about holding an activity for
World AIDS Day. Ask the leaders and management to be involved and
gain their support.
Stage 4 – Where possible, support your organisation’s and VSO’s
strategy for HIV mainstreaming.
Other tools that are available to you are the two mainstreaming assessment tools (see
Annex 13a, 13b and 14) that can help you and your organisation to look at your
current stage of HIV mainstreaming and decide on how to further your work in this
area. Assessment Tool I is for a basic analysis of your organisation. Assessment Tool
II gives a detailed plan on how to reach each stage of the mainstreaming journey.
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