HIV/AIDS PREVENTION
DATES: July 30-August 13, 2006
ACCOMMODATIONS 2-DAY ORIENTATION: Hotel in Santo Domingo
ACCOMMODATION SANTO DOMINGO: Pension
MAXIMUM NO. OF VOLUNTEERS: 15
PROGRAM FEE: US$2500
(Includes: Room and Board, in-country transportation, 2-hr Spanish Conversation instruction each day, airport transfers, 2-day orientation in Santo Domingo.
Does not include airfare)
Project Leader: David Luther
David Luther is the executive director and founder of IDDI. David Luther was born in Brazil, but has lived the past 45 years in the Dominican Republic. IDDI is the major non-profit organization in the Dominican Republic involved in urban development having a full time staff of 75 professionals and an additional part time staff of 226 community and health/environmental sanitation promoters. IDDI has promoted the creation of networks and federations of networks of grass roots organizations in the city of Santo Domingo accompanying them with training in areas such as human rights, formulation of national budgets, project planning and implementation, democracy and political participation.
Project Description:
In 1992, the first national survey of youth (15-24 years of age) regarding HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in the Dominican Republic was conducted (ENJOVEN 1992). Data obtained from Santo Domingo indicates that nearly all surveyed had heard about AIDS. However, other types of STDs were not as well known, indicating a void in sexual education. Only 68% of females and 47% of males had heard of syphilis.
Most youth interviewed were familiar with the forms of transmission of HIV, although there still existed some confusion regarding the forms in which the virus is not transmitted and if a cure for AIDS exists. Nearly 87% of female and 35% of males with sexual experience have not adopted any changes in sexual behavior after learning about the existence of AIDS. (Figures reflect national sample and do not refer only to Santo Domingo.)
Additionally, the mean age for the first sexual relation is 15 -16 years of age. About 26% of females of Santo Domingo between the ages of 15-19 had already initiated sexual activity, in comparison with 56% of males of that age interviewed. Nearly 70% of males' between15-24 years of age had initiated sexual relations prior to marriage. About 50% of those sexually active maintained relations with one regular sexual partner during the last 3 months while only 29% of males had used a condom in their last reported sexual relation, only 6% of females had reported use.
Volunteers will participate in an ongoing educational program directed by IDDI aimed at preventing the future spread of STDs and HIV. The program has developed a community-based educational system for STD/AIDS prevention directed at youth aged 13-24 in four marginal urban zones of Santo Domingo. Prevention entails training young community leaders, parents, teachers and community-based organization members on the concepts of prevention and community action in support of youth health programs. Volunteers will participate in group meetings, visit local youth organizations in the slums of Santo Domingo, distribute condoms and sex education materials, and more.
If you have questions please contact Liv Vesely at 845.223.3570 or liv@dominicanfoundation.org
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