targeted aids interventions

Social Research Project: the young people participating in the Shosholoza and Inkunzi Projects reported challenges relating to the adults within their communities. For example, health services were not youth-friendly (when accessing free condoms, nurses would harass them) or the adults in their families reacted negatively when they (as “children”) tried to talk to “adults” about sex, condom use and HIV. This was seen as taboo. With the intention of creating an enabling environment for the groups of young peer educators, TAI decided to create a project involving adults within the community to work with the youth groups. The Sibambiqhaza Project was started in the Matimatolo community (deep rural) and saw the meaningful involvement of a broad section of the community through mainstreaming HIV and AIDS activities into the core-functions of their community groups.
Focal areas: HIV prevention, AIDS mitigation, prevention of the abuse of women and children, destigmatisation of and support for HIV positive community members (previously there was no disclosure due to fear of persecution), care and support of OVC, voluntary counseling and testing, promoting ARV access.

• Work with community structures as peer educators (male, female, all age groups) through pre-established community structures like churches, gardening groups, etc. Additional support provided through the local advisory committee and traditional and political leadership
• The participants undergo training and capacity building in areas such as sex and sexuality, correct information relating to puberty, HIV prevention, AIDS mitigation, gender issues (especially in the context of a very patriarchal society) and women’s rights, project management, home-based care, counseling, communication skills, decision-making and negotiation.
• On-going mentoring and support is provided by the TAI staff to assist the community group in engaging with and mobilizing the community around the core issues they prioritize. TAI also supports the community structures as they lobby and advocate government and other related structures for improved access to services, social grants, etc.
• TAI provides additional support for PLWHA (whom have disclosed to the project) through income generation and the establishment of support groups.

Although TAI’s projects follow similar methodologies, the approach and materials developed differ vastly from project to project, as per the intended beneficiaries. An Annual Report has been finalized every year.

DIRECT BENEFICIARIES: Established community structures (including schools), community representatives, PLWHA

INDIRECT BENEFICIARIES: Members of the community, families of the participants

This project has undergone extensive internal evaluation with excellent results. An external evaluation is still pending.