The role of Volunteers in NAPHAM Presented by Maureen Mwakanema Southern African Conference on Volunteer Action for Development 18th October,2011

Background of NAPHAM: National Association for People Living with HIV and AIDS in Malawi A registered Malawian Non Governmental Organisation Started in 1993 by four people who were living with HIV and felt that their needs as PLHIV were not met. A membership organisation open to all PLHIV in Malawi through support groups in Malawi As of today NAPHAM has approximately 56,000 registered members. NAPHAM works directly with PLHIV as such it provides a human face to the pandemic

NAPHAM’s vision NAPHAM envisions quality life for people infected and directly affected by HIV and AIDS who are well informed about HIV and AIDS issues and are able to live to their full potential in a free and conducive environment

NAPHAM’s mission statement NAPHAM exists to promote quality care, support and prevention services in order to enhance positive living and to reduce HIV and AIDS transmission for all people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in Malawi.

Core Programmes and activities Prevention, care and support HIV &AIDS education outreach Pretest and follow up counselling Community Home Based care Adult and children group therapy Livelihood Income Generating activities Farming Hope Kit Advocacy Human Rights and Patient Charter Sensitising communities on Stigma and discrimination Dialogue meetings with community leaders Interface meetings with health service providers Lobby meetings with government

Core programmes continuation Membership anchor Data base of all members and this assists in developing programmes which takes composition of membership into consideration. Capacity building Support groups and staff are trained in all core activities and project management.

The value of community based volunteers NAPHAM as an organisation has no community based employees. There are only district employees who provides technical support and mentoring to the support groups. All community work is done by the volunteers from the support groups. Without these community volunteers NAPHAM would not have achieved much. The work done by the volunteers is invaluable. Issues of behavior change can not be tackled by outsiders alone it has to come from the community. Using PLHIV volunteers in the communities has assisted in reducing stigma and discrimination as the community values the services they provide.

The benefits for the volunteers Well informed on various HIV and AIDS issues because they are trained in the area of volunteering They gain respect and some become influential in the communities as they are regarded as a source of HIV and AIDS information The small allowances they get during the trainings go a long way. Others have managed to start small businesses within their locality while others have managed to buy iron sheets to roof their houses.

Volunteering and sustainable development The role of community based volunteers in sustainable development need not be emphasised because volunteer from organisations have time line they come for a specified period and leave but, the community volunteers will remain in their communities and continue using and instilling in others the knowledge and skills for development. These volunteers are catalysts of change.

Volunteer Motivation NAPHAM Community Volunteers are unique because they are in the fight against HIV not as “external experts” but as people experiencing the problem. They have face the everyday poverty experiences like everyone else and being PLHIV is an added burden. They are driven with passion from within. Providing them with information on HIV and AIDS which assist them live a positive life is vital to them. Providing them with tools that enable them deliver the services efficiently gains them respect in the community Branding makes them stand out in the communities.

The strength of NAPHAM lies in the community based volunteer NAPHAM, A FRIEND AT ALL TIMES Thank for your attention