HIV CommitteePeace Corps Guatemala

Coordinator and Quetzaltenango/Totonicapán Representative: Kendra O’Connor

Quiché Representative: Erika ChambersSololá Representative: Laura Kirk

Chimaltenango Representative: Connie Gonzalez

Our Vision To train and support Peace Corps

Volunteers and Host Country Nationals in the effort to achieve an HIV-free generation in Guatemala by increasing awareness and understanding of HIV, empowering People Living with HIV (PLHIV), reducing stigma and discrimination, as well as promoting equal access to services.

Who is the HIV Committee? • HIV Coordinator - Main communication liaison with

staff members, will also act as Regional HIV Representative

• 4 Regional HIV Representatives• The regions are as follows:

• Quetzaltenango/Totonicapán• Sololá• Quiché• Chimaltenango & Sacatepéquez

• Staff Liaisons– Rocío Gonzalez (Staff Liaison to PEPFAR)– David Castillo (Support Liaison)

Commitment to Committee

• Become an HIV resource for other volunteers in each of the respective departments.

• Increase communication about the committee’s activities with staff

• Hold four meetings of the committee per year to plan and discuss activities for the following months

How We Work• Train volunteers and HCNs to be able to replicate

HIV/AIDS activities in their communities

• Gathering and sharing information about the situation regarding HIV in Guatemala

• Develop framework tools and activities for education in various sectors

• Integrate HIV/AIDS prevention education into each PC program (MCH,YiD,HS)

Cross-Sector Programming Priorities• PC/G CSPPs are HIV/AIDS and Gender Equality

and Women’s Empowerment • Promote and integrate HIV considerations in

line with PC post, national, and PEPFAR country goals.

• Integration of HIV/AIDS differs by project as well as activities that promote them– YiD vs. Healthy Schools vs. MCH– Primary vs. Secondary Projects– Programming, Training, Partnerships, and Volunteer

Support

Community Partners in Guatemala

• Ministry of Health

• Ministry of Education

• Ministry of Sports

• RedVIHQ (Xela)

• Religious groups

• NGOs active in the departments where we work

What we’ve done: Sololá

• Regional HIV workshop with PCVs and HCNs

• World AIDS day activities

• HIV and Soccer Taller

• GLOW Camp

What we’ve done: Quiché

• World AIDS Day activities

• HIV testing in the health center

• Caminata y Charlas

• HIV taller for Health Center personnel

• Testing of community members

• Initiating formation of REDVIHQ (Quiché)

• GLOW camps

What we’ve done: Quetzaltenango

•Support the REDVIHQ mission and member organizations

•HIV and stigma/discrimination trainings with nursing school students

•Mental Health and Team Strengthening Workshop for HIV Clinic providers from Xela, Coatepeque, and San Marcos

•PC HIV charlas in básicos, colegios, and primary schools

•World AIDS Day and Sexual Diversity Parades

•Vagina Monologues – Xela

What we’ve done: Totonicapán

• Community trainings and rapid testing

• GLOW Camps

• HIV Talleres with Youth in Básicos

• Training with teachers to replicate talleres en Básicos

• World AIDS Day Activities

What we’ve done: Chimaltenango

• BRO Camp• World AIDS Activities– Parade with Health Center Staff and local NGO, while

handing out brochures – Parade with 100+ jovenes – Youth Soccer Tournament – Testimonial from local Guatemalan woman living with

HIV, presented to both Health Center Staff and jovenes– Informational broadcast throughout Tecpan and Santa

Apolonia, while receiving questions and comments from community members

• HIV trainings with Health Center Staff and Pregnancy Clubs

Plan for 2014• Trainings of materials with Volunteers and Counterparts

• Work with HCN and local agencies to make Peace Corps a reliable resource for HIV and stigma and discrimination education

• Communicate with volunteers any new information about the situation regarding HIV in Guatemala

• Communicate about the committee’s activities with staff

• Working with PCTs during PST 1 and 2

• Develop framework tools and activities for education in various sectors

Gracias por su atención

HIV CommitteePeace Corps Guatemala

2014