Project Duration
Phase I September 2007- November 2007 details on: http://projects.takingitglobal.org/togetheragainststigma

Phase II May 2008 -October 2008

MAIN OBJECTIVE
The young people that have already under gone through stigma, shame and discrimination training that highlights the forms of Stigma related to HIV/AIDS in the community will reach out to the members of the community by creating and improving partnerships and cooperation with especially young PLWHA support groups and other youth groups, by holding regular community dialogues, workshops and community activities together.

Compile information in a more youth-friendly way, edit and produce it to be to be able to be understood by all the community members in general in a bid to fight against HIV/AIDS

NEEDS ASSESSMENT:
There is a big gap between the uninfected and infected youth and this hinders the fight against stigma in the community and among the youth, making the PLWHA enclosing themselves in their activities, this is because a lot of young people are not really aware of their HIV status and thus are not committed to supporting their fellow PLWHA. These are basic facts that young people living with HIV/AIDS in Makadara Constituency, Nairobi, Kenya come across in their day to day interaction with their fellow youth.

Central Bureau of Statistics, Demographic and health survey 2003: Chapter 12, subtopic 12.3 focusing on Stigma towards HIV infected people states that education is strongly related to positive attitudes towards those who are HIV+. The proportion of women and men who accept all for measures increase steadily with education as well as with the wealth index

The response we have in relation to HIV/AIDS is over whelming with a lot of young people moving from the ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, Condoms and Disease control) practice to SAVER (Safer practices, Access to treatment, Voluntary counseling and Testing, Empowerments, and Reduction of stigma) method while keeping in mind of their fellow members of the community who are not only infected with HIV but also affected. Much has been done on HIV/AIDS awareness but very little is done for PLWHA to gain support from their fellow peers.

The pilot project has been based on in Makadara constituency Nairobi, Kenya, where by primarily identified youth volunteers went through a training that highlighted forms of stigma and discrimination toward PLWHA in the community d to be replicated in other constituencies

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

a.
The young people that have already under gone through stigma, shame and discrimination training that highlights the forms of Stigma related to HIV and AIDS in the community they will reach out to the members of the community by creating and improving partnerships and cooperation’s with especially young PLWHA support groups and other youth groups, by holding regular community dialogues, workshops and community activities together

b.
Compile information in a more youth-friendly way, edit and produce it to be to be able to be understood by all the community members in general in a bid to fight against HIV/AIDS

THE ROLE OF MY COMMUNITY
The community at large has been engaged directly and indirectly, Members of the community have taken the initiative to access trainings and health care services and Voluntary counseling and testing to know their HIV status. It is through his activities that their attitude was noted and the need to spread more information as the situation was within the community members.

Stay alive youth support group members have involved Makadara community members through advocacy activities and skill building workshops as well as organizing dialogues and trainings that focus on the fight against HIV/AIDS. Community stake holders and elders have been engaged in discussions and giving directions and guidelines on how to undertake activities

The major role of the community in this project is to exercise and to practice the skills and information distributed to them.