Our Approach
The youth network consists of independent, self-sustaining, HIV+ youth associations. Some of these associations are created with the technical assistance of EFA International, and some are existing associations that have jointed the youth network. EFA conducts a wide array of interventions with these individual associations, including organizational development, management training, and income generation projects. In addition, each association benefits from participating in network-wide activities, including Peer Education, topic-specific trainings and opportunities for economic collaboration.
Joining a group with other people who are living with HIV is a valuable step in accepting one’s own HIV+ status. Being part of a safe community where questions are asked and answered openly and honestly, and experiences are shared lends a sense of acceptance and belonging. While simply coming together is important, EFA also empowers associations to launch new activities in the community, to access available community resources, and to advocate for the rights of their members. Association members are encouraged to develop education campaigns to educate fellow youth in their community about the importance of getting tested and the benefits of joining an association if their results are positive. Associations are also expected to maintain relationships with local hospitals and counseling and testing centers in an effort to facilitate outreach to HIV+ youth.
Associations are often able to approach local, religious and traditional authorities in order to raise awareness about the specific situation of HIV+ youth in the community and propose strategies on how best to support them. For example, after a member of the association ABEPSA became the victim of a discrimination campaign in her neighborhood, the members of her association, with the support of EFA staff, wrote letters and confronted local leaders until local authorities identified and successfully prosecuted the perpetrator for discrimination. This sent a strong message to the community that discrimination against people living with HIV won’t be tolerated.
In addition to reducing stigma and discrimination against HIV+ youth, advocacy campaigns can assist association members in mobilizing resources. For example, after seeing first hand the success of the EFA-sponsored community garden of the association AJSYSGOD, the urban council of the district and director of the health center provided the association with free use of the health center for their meetings and free access to the village water tower to irrigate their crops during the dry season. In the community of Amchidé, a local religious leader in the community began pledging a monthly contribution to the association AWALLA, to support their HIV prevention activities in the community.
All association members in the EFA International Youth Network are located in the Extreme North and North regions of Cameroon. The regional office of EFA International is located in Maroua, the provincial capital, allowing easy access to all Youth Network association locations.
