This post is based on the presentation that Asia Catalyst scholarship recipient Zhao Gang from Kang Xin
Home, a drug user NGO based in Yunnan, China, gave at the International AIDS
Conference in Vienna this July. Kang Xin Home (pronounced Kang
Shin) aims to bring together Chinese people living with HIV (PLHIV), injecting
drug users (IDU), and methadone treatment personnel in order to promote
HIV/AIDS prevention, self-help and mutual support. Kang Xin aims to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS
on their community, improve the quality of life
for drug users and PLHIV, and promote social equality.

The Situation of drug users

There are several main problems that drug users face in their daily life
which impact their ability to build an organization. Long-term drug abuse leads
to low self esteem. Drug users in our area lack stable employment and therefore
a secure livelihood. They are marginalized and lack support and trust from the
community they live in. The resulting instability makes it difficult for them
to integrate into society. Grassroots nongovernmental organizations (NGO) can
benefit drug users and give them hope through both the services they provide
and the opportunity to get active. However, organizing drug users faces some
distinct challenges that I would like to discuss here. This discussion is part
of a process to actively find solutions and to build sustainable organizations
by and for drug users in China.

Difficulties we face       

Lack of stable financial support for Chinese NGOs is a major barrier to
running an organization in China. Problems with registering an independent NGO
cause major difficulties with fundraising activities. The environment in China is
still not very supportive of independent NGOs. Since funding is hard to secure,
NGOs in many cases have difficulties paying stable salaries to their staff. For
drug user organizations discrimination is another concern, since drug use is
criminalized in China and association with a drug user organization can make
staff and members subject to discrimination by society, but also by police who
can who can take drug users in for urine tests anytime.

Some solutions

There are some ways to tackle these problems. Don’t wait for others to do
it first, nothing will get done if everybody always waits for others. Though
you may dream big, start small and make sure you can support basic subsistence.
Communicate with others and explain the facts to gain their support. Position
the organization carefully and seize any opportunity for registration. It is
also very important that staff understand the organization’s situation.
Communicate openly with your staff and work as a team to build strong resources.
It is possible that with outreach and successful policy advocacy, discrimination
issues can be resolved in your area.

Remaining long-term problems

Generally, drug user organization in China have a low level of
education and lack professional capacity. This results in poor management and
there is a lack of effective NGO management models available in China. Financial management practices
can be unfair or unsafe, another
large barrier to running a successful organization. For these and many other reasons,
mutual trust within the drug user community can also be very low. Unstable
salaries can result in high personnel turnover which again results in high work
load for the remaining staff.

How can we solve existing problems?

Solving these problems will not happen overnight. One important step is to build
the self-confidence of drug users to participate in drug user organizations. We
can improve overall capacity of NGOs and staff through training, help them
improve management mechanisms and foster a sense of responsibility. Financial
management needs to be professionalized. Trust and communication within the
organization and the community need to be strengthened. Training should also be
given to junior staff so they develop the capacity to manage program
activities. For salaries and benefits a rewards system based on performance could
be established.