[REPORT] Using Buddhism in HIV/AIDS Education and Care

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With some translation assistance from Asia Catalyst, Mr. Ai Khamngen from Yunnan’s Sangha Metta Project (佛光之家 foguangzhijia）won a full scholarship from the International AIDS Society to attend the International AIDS Conference in Vienna. Sangha Metta, located in Yunnan’s Sipsongpanna Tai Autonomous Prefecture, brings together Tai minority Buddhist monks, people living with HIV/AIDS, and community leaders to do AIDS prevention, sex education, and community support work. Theirs is one of the few ethnic-minority-led AIDS programs in China, and is modeled on similar projects in Thailand. Here is his slide presentation.

Please follow this link for his presentation: HIVAIDS care with Buddhism.

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[REPORT] Difficulties Drug Users Face when Building an Organization

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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.

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[UPDATE] Asia Catalyst and Friends at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna

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Asia Catalyst and friends from China and Thailand are going to Vienna in July for the International AIDS Conference. Here’s where we will be, hope to see you.

 

 

GLOBAL VILLAGE

Stop by our “Crossing Borders” booth
for a packet on how to plan your own human rights research mission,
mini-trainings on human rights research, and cool gear from China &
Thailand!

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[RESOURCE] Volunteer Management: Developing Leaders

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By Adam Froiran and Meg Davis

This is the final part from our manual on volunteer management.

In order to run your organization successfully, a core leadership group can have many advantages. Training volunteers and employees to develop strong leadership skills bolsters your organization’s opportunity for growth and sustainability.  Encouraging leadership at all levels of your organization allows for a greater sharing of responsibility and translates to work or projects being consistent, even if somebody has to drop out.

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[RESOURCE] Managing Volunteers and Avoiding Burnout

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By Josh Clarkson and Meg Davis

This is part four of our manual on volunteer management

It’s not easy to keep up motivation among volunteers, that’s why positive management is essential to making effective use of your organization’s volunteers. Some of the steps detailed below can also help to avoid volunteer burnout.

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