Story
Thank you for taking the time to read my Justgiving page.
Firstly you may notice that the URL address for this page has the word Tajikistan in. Last year I was placed on the VSO ICS programme for Tajikistan, however due to unforeseen circumstances I delayed my placement until this summer. On the 1st of July I'll actually be heading in a completely different direction, to Zambia.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the home of 27 million persons living with HIV and in Zambia; the prevalence of HIV infection is as high as 25%. The HIV epidemic is so widespread in this country that individuals aged 15 have more than a 50% risk of dying of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) before the age of 35.
VSO’s vision is a poverty and HIV/AIDS free Zambia, in which all disadvantaged women, youth (female and male) and vulnerable children are able to exploit their full potential in a conductive and secure environment. The donations you kindly donate will contribute to VSO projects all around the world. Helping VSO achieve their global vision of a world without poverty where excluded and marginalised women and men have a choice and an opportunity to participate effectively in society. Where they have enough to feed and clothe their families, have access to education and healthcare services, land on which to grow food or a job to earn a living.
I will be placed on a health programme, focusing on HIV/AIDS and community health. (More details to follow).
Anything you can spare will make a huge difference to those in need.
Thanks again :)
Joe
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BIG UPDATE as promised guys.
Hopefully the following will shine a light on the work I'll be doing out in Zambia.
Ok, so the official project title is Engaging Young People in Promoting Coummunity Health in Zambia. I will be working in partnership with the Youth Development Organisation (YDO), The YDO was founded in 1997 to give local youths an opportunity to address some of the issues affecting them and their communities. Since then YDO has rapidly expanded into one of the most active youth-focussed organisations in Zambia. Their ultimate goal is to empower young people, helping them to achieve their potential and shape a better future for Zambia. The YDO focuses its work in three priority areas; Civic Education, Economic Empowerment and HIV/AIDS prevention.
I will be placed within four government health centres and two youth NGO's where I will contribute through Peer Education, Awareness Raising, Community Infrastructure Development and Training.
After arriving in Zambia's capital Lusaka, I will travel to a smal community called CHOMA. It will be here I'll be based for the next three months. My team will be comprised of both UK and Zambian national volunteers. I will be placed with a Zambian counterpart with whom I will live with in a host home. I will also be grouped with another UK volunteer and two Zambian volunteers in my volunteer placement. The whole team will get together on a weekly basis in order to plan community action days, run global citizen days (voluneer led workshops exploring global issues) and discuss solutions to certain challenges.
For more information on YDO heres a link:
http://www.contesacharity.org/
Thank you for reasing :)