HIV/AIDS Prevention and Support in the Post-Soviet Countries
(Armenia, Ukraine, Georgia)

Project Duration: 01. 07.2016 – 30. 06.2019
Beneficiaries: about 3,670 community members
Project Location: Shirak Province

The economic and social background of people living in villages, high level of unemployment, increased migration to the countries with high indicators of HIV as well as insufficient awareness level of transmission and prevention of the infection make the spreading of HIV in the region easier. The estimation of HIV registered cases of the RA is the highest in Shirak Province, i.e. 114.0 per population of 100,000.

Goal
To promote safe behavior among community members including high school children as well as primarily migrants and their families, through implementation of awareness raising and preventive activities. The project collaborates with the local priest/religious leader of each target community. Sixty communities are included in the project.

Objective
To contribute to the prevention of HIV/AIDS infections through increased awareness and information and improved access to diagnosis and consultation in post-soviet countries.

Project Activities

  • Capacity building of the project team including community coordinators and religious leaders through training courses, seminars, discussions and exchange activities.
  • Awareness raising activities among different groups of community members, primarily migrating population and their families.
  • Provision of anonymous, free tests to the target community members.
  • Peer to Peer explanatory sessions at the target community schools for high grade students including TOTs for already included students by making them Peer to Peer trainers.

The project is being implemented in partnership with Caritas Odessa and “Tanadgoma” Centre for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health, Georgia. The project is financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and Caritas Austria /Innsbruck/.

Partners: Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Caritas Austria (Innsbruck)

Budget: 132 000 €

Project Manager: Gayane Norikyan

Project Coordinator: Anna Hakobyan