CIC: Education and Advocacy

Kigali urban HIV and AIDS project, Rwanda

Life-saving knowledge

Given access to the right information and healthcare services, HIV and AIDS are preventable and treatable (although not curable). However, the HIV and AIDS pandemic still remains a major threat to children's wellbeing, needlessly killing thousands of children and their parents each year, especially in eastern and southern Africa.

Kiwis' generous donations to the CIC: Education and Advocacy fund are helping World Vision work with the education and health sectors in countries like Rwanda to teach children and youth the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves from HIV infection. World Vision is also advocating for policies and practices that reduce the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS and uphold the rights of people affected by HIV.

Kigali urban HIV and AIDS project

In Rwanda, an estimated 130,000 children (aged 0-17) have lost one or both parents to AIDS (UNICEF, 2009). Children orphaned by AIDS, and those whose families live in poverty due to the financial burden of caring for someone with HIV, need extra protection and support from the community. Through CIC, World Vision has provided HIV prevention and care training to 10 community-based organisations working with these groups in Rwanda's capital city, Kigali. World Vision has also trained 50 volunteer staff from these organisations in small business development so they can seek sources of income while continuing their valuable community work.

Spreading the word

Adolescents and young people (aged 15-24) make up about 40 percent of all new adult HIV infections. Latest figures show that fewer than 40 percent of young people have basic information about HIV. In recognition of these alarming statistics, World Vision has distributed HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention tool kits to 100 home-based caregivers, 10 community-based organisations and five AIDS education school clubs in Kigali. The kits, which include TVs, DVD players, CDs and other accessories, contain materials suitable for teaching a range of different age groups.

How can you get involved?

Your contribution to World Vision's CIC: Education and Advocacy fund is helping spread life-saving information about HIV and AIDS to vulnerable children and young people living in Kigali, Rwanda. Below are just some of the other ways your donation has made a difference:

• Seventy people from four community-based organisations have completed courses on fundraising to help with their work caring for vulnerable children and people living with HIV and AIDS in Kigali.
• More than 12 community care groups have been set up in Kigali to monitor and support the area's most vulnerable children. These groups recruit and train volunteer home visitors to identify, monitor and protect the most vulnerable children in their communities. World Vision continues to help strengthen these groups and advocate for more resources to be made available for their work.