WORLD VISION: CHANNELS OF HOPE EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP/SEMINAR

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Motivated by our Christian faith, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

World Vision partners with children and the communities among the poorest areas to help improve lives and combat poverty.

World Vision strives to build thriving communities where peace and justice prevail and all can enjoy security, opportunity and happiness. We work for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable people through:  

• Sustainable development. World Vision works alongside the disadvantaged communities enabling them to use their own capacities and potentials so that they can own the development process.  

• Emergency Response and Disaster Relief. World Vision responds to life-threatening situations where its involvement is needed and appropriate. I seeks to protect vulnerable people amid difficult circumstances by providing emergency relief such as food, water, shelter, medicine, clothing, and disaster preparedness trainings.  

• Raising Public Awareness and Advocating for Justice. By increasing understanding of poverty and injustice, World Vision seeks to promote public involvement and government policies that alleviate poverty.

 

Getting to zero together!

As we observe World Aids Day this year, we stand together as a nation with the rest of the world to demonstrate solidarity against the deadly disease. Only by working hand in hand will we be able to get to zero together. Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Stigma & Discrimination. Zero AIDS Related Deaths. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) declares that in 2009 over 34 million people worldwide live with HIV and over 15 million children are affected by their parents’ death caused by AIDS. Over 2 million children live with HIV/AIDS.

Though the number of new HIV infections has declined worldwide, the number of those infected in the Philippines has increased.  In 2011 alone approximately 1,800 confirmed new HIV infections were declared in just the first 10 months of the year. The numbers reveal a stark contrast to the annual reported cases of the whole 2009 which totals 835. Majority of those infected are male aged 20 to 29 with the Department of Health stating that an average of 6 infections is reported every day.
As the infected are faced with this deadly disease they not only encounter the physical damage but heavy on their hearts is the emotional suffering caused by stigma and discrimination.  

World Vision in partnership with Channels of Hope has developed workshops to stop the stigma and discrimination to give love to those who need it most. Related to the theme of World AIDS day for 2011-zero discrimination, World Vision and the Channels of Hope Team currently conduct interactive workshops intended to create awareness and help bring hope to those infected. Participants learn more information about HIV & AIDS, its prevention and combating stigma & discrimination related to the illness.

A participant shares, “This workshop challenged my views in terms of how people living with HIV & AIDS can have hope through the available treatment and from their other support group, that the discrimination and stigma must be less or none, that a person living with HIV should not be judged and how can I help them as a Christian!”

HIV and AIDS in the Philippines are described as ‘hidden and growing’. With the increasing numbers of Filipinos going in and out of the country, cases of human trafficking, sex trades, lack of information, lack of health services, and inadequate response of government agencies on the issue, Filipinos are in danger of being infected of the HIV and AIDS epidemic through sexual and non-sexual (e.g.,blood transfusion and mother-to-child). The 2009 Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serological Surveillance (IHBSS) report showed Fillipinos afflicted with HIV and AIDS is steadily growing. The report shows that since 2001, number of new cases in the Philippines has increased by 334%. 

The Channels of Hope (COH) is World Vision’s response and initiative to address the issues on HIV and AIDS.  COH brings hope to all people whose lives have been impacted and affected by HIV and AIDS. COH equips people with correct information about HIV and AIDS, assists individuals to be more compassionate in dealing with people living with HIV, and engages with local churches and faith communities to respond positively.

World Vision's "Prevention , Care and Advocacy" HIV/AIDS response stratety focuses on building the capacity of communities to a) prevent the spread of HIV b) care and advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children.

A hemophiliac, Greyling tested positive for HIV while attending theological seminary in 1987. He publicly disclosed his HIV status in 1992, while serving as a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa.

Christo Greyling is World Vision’s Director for HIV and Infectious Diseases. His vision is to see World Vision contribute towards reaching ZERO new HIV infections in children by the end of 2015. As an HIV positive faith leader, he realised the potential of faith communities and co-developed the Channels of Hope methodology to equip local faith leaders and congregations to respond effectively to HIV and AIDS. He served as board member of HIV focused NGOs such as INERELA+, CABSA and EAA.

  


PERSONAL TESTIMONIAL:

WORLD VISION: CHANNELS OF HOPE provided an EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP/SEMINAR for People Living with HIV in Western Visayas last  SEPTEMBER 12,13,14 & 15 , 2012 @ CENTENNIAL RESORT HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER,l ALTA TIERRA VILLAGE, JARO, ILOILO CITY. There were around 40 participants who attended the said Workshop and I was one of them. It provided us an environment conducive to empower ourselves and at the same time be able to connect with our creator and thanking him for making us a more stronger person and also it nurtured our faith with our creator. 
It inspired me to see people who are very much devoted to facilitate the said event. I have never seen a Christian Organization who welcomed us and provided us wisdom and inspired us to move on with life and to Trust GOD with his plan for us.

To all the Facilitators Ma'am Charity Perea, Sir Jericho Paterno. Brother Jessie, Ma'am Karen, Doc Yvonne Duque also to the Rising Sun Association Incorporated and everybody who mad e the even possible.

THANK YOU!

 Source: http://worldvision.org.ph/node/104 
http://skollworldforum.org/speaker/christo-greyling/
http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/pr.nsf/f7b30c7d9156f79b8525646000810b4b/d2c9b508c3012fae88256bed006bc629!OpenDocument


Jake Positive. BE SAFE! +)