Worldwide: Aids Program

Background:

The World YWCA, an organisation that reaches 25 million girls and women, has set the prevention of HIV and Aids as a priority. A global programme supports innovative Aids projects by national organisations and backs them up with ongoing training seminars and networks to carry the knowledge further.

Prevention of new infection

Preventative projects help to decrease the number of new infections, especially of girls and young women. The prevention groups of the YWCA Angola, for example, give basic knowledge about health, HIV and Aids to girls between 10 and 14 years of age. These year-long courses are given by older girls who try to encourage the younger girls to find their own talents, to take command of their own lives and develop perspectives. The World YWCA supports them with methodical knowl-edge and thematic materials.

Further education

The World YWCA supports the exchange of information between the national organisations with educational seminars. Participants from different nations learn how to effectively develop and initiate HIV/Aids programmes in their own lands. Every year, 500 women are being taught in such seminars. These women bring the knowledge they gained to their national YWCAs, where national Aids strategies and local self-help projects are designed. Regional representatives of the World YWCA support the local and national YWCAs in those processes and act as advisors helping with the planning and initiation of new projects.

Representing the concerns of young women

The World YWCA is committed to ensuring that Aids victims have access to medical care and effective medication. It is working together with UNAIDS and UNICEF with a focus on representing the concerns of young women. The YWCA was invited to participate in the organising committee of the International AIDS Conferences in 2008 in Mexico and in 2010 in Vienna as a civil organisation to bring attention to the concerns of young women.