Anchoring Awareness in the Community - Handicap International

INVOLVING LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS FOR LONG-LASTING CHANGE
The community was doubly active in carrying
out this project: on the one hand, because the
project animators were themselves members
of the community, and on the other, because
the project advisory committee was made
up of community leaders.
This double involvement of local stakeholders
encouraged the development of long-lasting
changes within the community.
Encourage adoption
of the cause by community leaders
Because they participated in the project
advisory committee, the different community
and religious leaders adopted the project.
Having to propose solutions to the problems
of the animators or advising on project
orientations favored their joining the cause.
They realized the importance of developing
HIV/AIDS awareness.
Anchor the topic permanently
by involving community members
Choosing and training local animators for
raising awareness enabled the community
to acquire knowledge of the disease and
educational know-how. Even after the project
is over, these animators will still be considered
as resource persons for obtaining information
on the disease.
In a similar way, the leaders involved, who have
been made aware of HIV, will continue after the
project to have an attitude that contributes
to diminishing stigmatization and promoting
prevention in the different social networks
where they have an influence.
Strengthen community capacities
In the field, the awareness program was
entirely implemented by community members:
the animators for house-to-house education
and the partner association and the leaders for
SUCCESS STORY:
UNEXPECTED PARTNERS JOIN IN
The Dire Dawa University of Psychology
called on animators to carry out a joint
research project, where the reaction of
the community to this type of houseto-house
awareness development
was investigated. Another research
project concerned the reaction and
the feelings of persons who discover
their HIV status.
monitoring the project. Thus, at the end of the
project the community has all the capacities
for implementing a similar project in the future
on its own. Also, the choice of carrying out an
in-depth awareness program with a number
of sessions per household participated in this
reinforcement of community knowledge,
since these households benefit from in-depth
knowledge of the disease.
Reach other social areas
through the leaders
The choice of creating the project advisory
committee from influential leaders in
different domains (religious and political
leaders, representatives of women’s
associations, young people, persons living
with HIV, etc.) enabled strongly involving
respected personalities who are active in
different associations and different social
areas. Thus, within their associations, these
leaders highlighted the awareness project by
promoting it and mentionning it frequently as
an example.
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