An update on our International Project

 August 15th, 2012 

Dear Y’s Menettes 

As your new Project Coordinator I welcome you all to a new Y’s Menette Season. Hope you will
have the courage and efforts to work for our new project which is: Centre for HIV – AIDS
Awareness programmers and Educational Support to AIDS affected/infected destitute
children, Kerala, India. 

The project:

To provide comprehensive and holistic care for the vulnerable people affected and infected by
HIV/AIDS.

To integrate socio medical issues specifically stigma and discrimination addressed by patients living
with HIV/AIDS in North Kerala. India is a home to 2 to 3 million HIV patients, recent evidences
suggest that Indian HIV epidemic is stabilized and it is essential to prevent any new infections in
future.

For this we need more accessible VOLUNTARY CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELLING & TESTING
(VCCT) centre and clinical care providers. A follow up team and volunteers are required.


Activities:

1. Individual and Group Counseling; to establish three VCCT centre in North Kerala by supporting
capacity building programmers.

2. Support treatment for all infected people especially opportunistic infections. Training of doctors
and paramedical staff.

3. Education seminars, support group information. Conduct education seminars in high school,
colleges and among vulnerable community.

4. Education on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (couple counseling, support
during pregnancy).

5. Mainstreaming HIV experience. (Conducting seminars and experience sharing of positive
speakers)

6. Accurate HIV/AIDS information - e.g. transmission, prevention, local services, etc. (developing
material/posters, short films in promoting general awareness at community level. This helps in
reduction of stigma and discrimination)

7. Strengthening care options (the existing care centre must be provided with information of recent
trends and developments of care and supports.

8. Risk reduction training among vulnerable groups.



Price: 29.000 US $. 


Gurli Holm
Nøddevænget 17
DK-9230 Svenstrup / Denmark

Phone: +45 9838 1069

E-mail: holm.gh@mail.dk 

Y´s Menettes International  Project Coordinator 2012-14


Background: 

In the area around Cochin there is much large industry and more is under construction. Many flats
housing more than 5.000 people are employed in this industry. About 80 % of the people working
in the industries are migrated from states like Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa about 2.000 km from
Mattakuzhi.

Operators of trucks and Oil tankers coming to the above factories for supplying raw materials and
collecting refined oil or other products may stay there for two or three days. These workers and
vehicle operators mentioned above during their stay away from home may be tempted for sex.
Many experiment sex with drugs and alcohol.

Through those activities, people become vulnerable to HIV infection. Victims in most cases are
women and children from the poorest of the poor and marginalized families. Some of the children
are taken from streets and brought up in orphanages and they also might be infected. Proper
counseling and awareness programmers may improve the situation. By providing educational
support to HIV/AIDS infected children they can be enabled to earn their own livelihood. 

The project applicant: YMCA Mattakuzhi in South West India. There is 2 Y’s Men Clubs related to
the project, YMC of Mattakuzhi and YMC of Rock City. 

In Stavanger during the International Convention I met some people from India, who know the
project, and they promised me to send photos and information, which I will share with you as soon
as I get it. 

I want to thank Kumiko Nishimura for her excellent work as International Project Coordinator
2010-12. I will do my best to continue her job.

Y’sly greetings
Gurli Holm