Believers get involved with a Tanzanian AIDS outreach.

Tanzania (WVI)–World Vision and the European Union (EU) recently entered into a partnership to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS among 2.6 million youth in Tanzania.

WV Tanzania will implement this program jointly with Chama cha Uzazi na Malezi Bora Tanzania (UMATI), the Centre for Education in Health Development
(CEDHA), and the Institute of Public Health (IPH).

More than two million people have been infected with HIV in Tanzania since the first case was reported in 1983, and over 810,000 children below 15 years of age have lost one parent or both due to HIV/AIDS. An alarming trend indicates two thirds of new cases of HIV infections occurring among youths.

The program will mobilize youths between the ages of 10-24, with a special focus on vulnerable girls, orphans, school-going children, and out of school youth. More than 2000 orphaned girls will receive vocational training.

Program activities target changing the sexual behavior of youth through Behaviour Change Communication Information (BCCI).

Training on HIV/AIDS will be provided to influential community persons like schoolteachers, church leaders, and village health workers, as well as youth peer educators.

In order to improve the capacity of community-based structures, including faith-based organisations to respond to the needs of orphaned and vulnerable youth resulting from HIV/AIDS, the partners will mobilise and sensitize the community on the needs and legal rights of youth and orphans as well as on prevention and mitigation of HIV/AIDS.

Driven by faith, WVI seeks to enable those they help to realize their God-given potential.