ElectricAid Project of the Month

Direct action against HIV/AIDS in Tamilnadu, India

India is a highly traditional and conservative society, which finds it difficult to talk about, let alone confront, its HIV/AIDS problem. ElectricAid funded with €6,000 a small agency Society for Community Development Projects (SCDP) in Salem, Tamilnadu, which was taking on HIV/AIDS in a very direct and effective way. Salem is a garment making centre and transport hub, which is very relevant to this project.

SCDP focused on human rights, awareness and information, training of their own staff and of peer educators - all with a view to surfacing the issue and reducing stigma. Their target groups included women, young people, people living with HIV/AIDS.

Interestingly and innovatively, they also included truck drivers, helpers and the local population of commercial sex workers (prostitutes). They established condom booths at key transport locations, and were not backward about promoting their effective use.

They also established a counselling centre for PLWHAs and gave some income - generating training in garmentmaking. The garment making activities are sub-contracting work for the local plants. SCDP also heightened HIV/AIDS awareness through the medium of traditional drama, public meetings, peer training events and large public display boards.

The project outcomes so far have been very encouraging. Condom usage has increased, the rate of sexually transmitted illnesses has fallen - and hopefully, that of new HIV/AIDS infections. There is a significantly higher level of accurate information about HIV/AIDS in the local community. A local myth that the disease was spread through insect bites is no longer so prevalent. Many women saw a condom for the first time in their lives and commercial sex workers have been encouraged to make condom usage part of their terms of trade. Awareness has also been increased about local services for HIV/AIDS and other STIs.

In summary, this was an innovative and courageous project, which we were very happy to back. We have just (November 2007) approved a second grant to SCDP - this time for €9,500 - for a follow-on project in Salem and outlying villages.

ElectricAid Monthly Draw Winner

This month's ElectricAid winner is Harold Clarke from Cranmore, Sligo. He is the lucky recipient of a €500 shopping vouchers kindly sponsored by ESB Corporate Affairs.