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a joint project involving Soroptimist International (SI)
and the
Population & Community Development Association (PDA)
The Soroptimist International AIDS Mediation (SIAM) Project, the Soroptimist International Quadrennial Project for the period of 1995-1999, is an expansion of the successful AIDS Education and Alternatives to Prostitution for Northern Thai Womens's Pilot Project, implemented by PDA and funded by Soroptimist International of Victoria Region of South West Pacific. The SIAM project works to:
- Provide education about HIV/AIDS and the dangers of the Commercial Sex Industry (CSI) to the entire community.
- Offer scholarships to needy and deserving students in the target area.
- Provide Occupational training and study to girls for alternative income generating activities. Offer the Revolving Loan Fund (RVF) to support the activities.
- Offer scholarships to needy and deserving students in the target area.
Now in its second year, the SIAM project is proud of its ability to unite the community and work together to prevent the spread of HIV and provide support for the people of the target area, especially the young women. A total of over 3,000 people have been directly impacted by the activities of the SIAM project.
THE COMMUNITY
The SIAM project chose 13 villages in the Doi Luang and the Mae Chan District of Chiang Rai Province as their target area due to the high rate of HIV infection and history of sending young women into CSI. In order to prepare the target group, PDA held informative workshops, conducted baseline surveys and provided focus group discussions. In addition, PDA was able to gain a better understanding of the target group's opinions, needs and problems relating to AIDS and CSI, education and the village economic status.
THE STRATEGY
Through target area research and PDA's experience in working with the target group, the SIAM project recognizes that a lack of knowledge about dangers of CSI, HIV/AIDS, rural poverty and a lack of practical employment opportunities are the primary reasons why women enter the CSI. Therefore, to combat these problems the SIAM project has implemented the following strategies:
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Education -
Provide a variety of educational techniques to educate about HIV/AIDS and the dangers of CSI to the entire community. Activities include Mobile Education Teams, 2 youth camps, SIAM newsletter, SIAM village news boards. A total of about 1,620 members of the target area were directly impacted by SIAM project educational campaigns.
Scholarships -
To date 557 scholarships have been awarded to needy and deserving 12-25 year old students. Many students have family members who are living with AIDS or have died from AIDS or have difficult family situations such as poverty or divorce.
Income-generating alternatives -
The aim is to provide occupational training for young women and their families. SIAM project believes that by offering realistic income generating alternatives, women will be able to stay in their villages and support their family through viable occupations.
Study tours -
In order to provide the best training possible, the SIAM project hosted 5 study tours to see sewing projects, jewellery production, passion fruit growing, silk and cotton weaving projects, poultry raising project, and a gem cutting group. Following the SIAM study tours and training, villagers from the target area were able to initiate income generating activities such as a vinyl bag production group, village cooperative savings fund, and passion fruit growing projects. A total of 224 people attended a study tour or received occupational training,
Revolving Loan Fund -
A revolving loan fund (PVF) was developed as a way for villagers to fund income generating activities In addition, a village can apply for the fund to form a village cooperative project such as a rice bank or saving group. To date a total of 563 families benefit from this revolving loan fund.
SIAM STAFF
The key to successful attitude change programs lies in the heart of the village - the youth. Therefore, PDA selected and trained 12 village coordinators between the age of 18 to 28. These coordinators are liaisons between the target villages and PDA and are responsible for coordinating village development activities, following RVF progress, overseeing the scholarship recipients, updating SIAM village news boards and reporting to PDA. In addition, community participation is essential in meeting the needs of the villagers. PDA has established 13 village Committees to oversee SIAM project and promote community involvement. The committees are made up of the village headman, village council members, young women¼s Scholarship committee members, housewives group and other interested community members.
SI SIAM Co-ordinator, Mary Buchanan (far left) and Soroptimist International President 1997-1999, Hilary Page (far right), with young co-ordinators working on the project.
