ICAI LAUNCHES AIDS-FREE COMMUNITY TOOLBOX

Since 2002, international ICAs have collaborated on the African HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative, implemented by 10 African ICAs. From 2013 to 2016, ICA Zimbabwe piloted the AIDS-Free Community Campaign in 26 communities in peri-urban Harare. The Campaign Toolbox consolidates what had been learned and organized into key aspects of community responsibility for AIDS prevention into a one-year replicable design. ​

The Toolbox provides a robust one-year plan for leaders and communities who want to tackle HIV/AIDS themselves. The implementation plan consists of four phases: Leadership Planning, Peer Educator Prevention Education, HIV/AIDS Management Implementation, and Evaluation and Continuation. The methods presented in the campaign are informed by ToP and the belief that local people can make decisions and learn from each other and their experiences. Through community-led campaigns, citizens learn that controlling HIV and creating an AIDS-free community are their responsibilities, which they can address and sustain after the one-year Campaign is completed.

ICA African staff can provide training, facilitation, and consulting to assist successful Campaigns. In the next issue, Gerald Gomani, ICA Zimbabwe Director, will present results of the campaign to date. ICA colleague Louise Singleton coordinated and supported much of this work over the past decade, and her contribution to the project and toolbox is invaluable. Louise and ICA colleague Bob True partnered with David Dunn to create the easy to use, informative, and visually appealing toolbox. To learn more and view the toolbox, contact ICA-USA staff Seva Gandhi at sgandhi@ica-usa.org or Richard Alton at richard.alton@gmail.com.