Small Grants - Madagascar

Grantee Name: Regional Synod in the North of Mania (SPAM)
Project Name: Awareness Creation and Institutionalization of the Best Practices in HIV/AIDS
Region: Africa
Country: Madagascar
Areas of Focus: Care and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS and Affected Communities; HIV Prevention; Stigma/Discrimination Reduction
Project Description: Through a CORE Initiative large grant to Lutheran World Relief, this organization received a small sub-grant for the following objective: A “training of trainers” workshop was provided to 18 participants (government representatives and authorities, church representatives, and health minister representatives) from six SPAM districts. The first workshop lasted five days and covered the following topics: communication skills, HIV/AIDS and STDs, and medical care and protection against HIV/AIDS. A second four day workshop was conducted the following month and addressed the following topics: peer counseling of behavior change and stigma reduction, care and support to PLWHA and the affected, best practices strategies in fighting HIV/AIDS, and stories of impacts of HIV/AIDS in other countries. Following the workshops the participants went to their respective towns and villages and trained other group leaders, church staff and entire congregations. The 18 original participants conducted 143 training sessions reaching 23,076 people.