YMCA Community HIV Prevention and Education Program in Nakhon Pathom

Working with the YMCA in Nakhon Pathom, EDC/HHD’s project supports 30 children in grades 5–7 (between 11 and 14 years old) with scholarships for schools. In addition, the project provides life skills and health education training to the children, their peers and families, and communities and networks of people living with HIV and AIDS. Peer educators who participate in the project share their knowledge with peers in primary and junior high school through condom use demonstrations and educational seminars about the disease. These peer education groups act as leaders in HIV prevention efforts and provide access to HIV prevention information, effectively turning these children into leaders of their communities. The program has educated more than 800 children in 7 public schools about HIV/AIDS, child rights and reproductive health.