HIV Committee
Peace Corps Guatemala
Coordinator and Quetzaltenango/Totonicapán
Representative: Kendra O’Connor
Quiché Representative: Erika Chambers
Sololá 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 Committee
Peace Corps Guatemala
2014