UNAIDS / HOPE’S VOICE INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING
ROYAL BENJA HOTEL BANGKOK, THAILAND
“An estimated 600,000 people are living with HIV or AIDS in Thailand, and rates are rising among young people and populations in parts of the South. Young people are becoming sexually active at an earlier age and many are not using protection. Significant numbers of young people also belong to especially high-risk groups, including injecting drug users, sex workers, men who have sex with men, migrant workers and seafarers.” – UNICEF Thailand.
Despite the presence of approximately 160 HIV and AIDS-related NGOs in Thailand, very few specifically support young people at risk for or living with HIV or AIDS. Though many organizations recognize the need for targeted programs and support for young people, few seem to have the funds, organizational capacity or desire to take the lead.
During the Hope’s Voice International training in Thailand, young people came together to talk about their fears, their challenges, their desires, hopes and dreams. They were a diverse group, both urban and rural, with different life experiences. None of the facilitators expected them to connect as quickly and openly as they did. This report outlines the training, the goals and outcomes of each session, and the discussions, evaluations and reflections of the participants. One of the most resounding sentiments was how much the participants appreciated the opportunity to come together with other young people living with HIV or AIDS and share experiences.
Hope’s Voice International was founded by a young man living with HIV struggling to find community. The organization grew as more young people found their voice and courageously came together to challenge stigma and discrimination. Hope’s Voice International provides young people with leadership training and platform so that they can be leaders. In turn, they help reduce stigma facing people living with HIV or AIDS and people belonging to minority groups whose needs are often excluded.
We look forward to young people living with HIV or AIDS in Thailand joining an international movement of young people advocating for their rights and working together to create change. We are deeply appreciative of our partners in Thailand, the facilitators who worked with us to design the training, our In-Country Coordinator who worked tirelessly on community outreach and the planning of the training and most of all to the participants who courageously took part in the first Leadership Training for young people living with HIV or AIDS in Thailand. In closing, what we heard and were told was that Thai youth were not ready to talk about their status or their stories. What we witnessed was, that they only needed a platform, a space, support and group of others who shared their struggles to voice their story. We hope that our report will allow them to heard.
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