Peace Corps DR plans to expand and deepen Volunteers work with communities to design and implement context-appropriate prevention interventions addressing the keys drivers of the epidemic, including sexual and behavioral risk, harmful gender/cultural norms. PC promotes behavior change through use of evidence-based programs and integration of efforts with other USG agencies and implementing partners. Programs also include a cross-cutting focus on reduction of stigma and discrimination among low-income and at risk adolescent populations.

In prevention, volunteers work with communities to design and implement context-appropriate and evidence-based prevention interventions, including sexual and behavioral risk, skills and attitudes to make healthy decisions to care for themselves and their families.

In support of care and treatment, Volunteers aid community members and organizations in designing and implementing care programs for PLHA, OVCs and their caretakers to mitigate the effects of HIV, improve the developmental growth of OVCs, improve household nutritional status and optimize the quality of life of adults and children living with and affected by HIV.

In the area of Governance and Systems, Volunteers work side-by-side with community partners to leverage all appropriate and locally-available resources and technology for development of sustainable, community-led responses to HIV. Volunteers placed in local organizations strengthen institutional capacities in the areas of communication, financial management, outreach to target populations, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Volunteer and Project Partners will have the following activities:

Certification Workshop. Youth leaders are trained and certified as Coordinators.

Executive Conference to promote the Escojo methodology and to create an opportunity to dialogue between key Escojo/PEPFAR stakeholders.

Regional Conference to focus on training youth in the basic curriculum which includes healthy decision making, HIV/AIDS prevention, avoiding adolescent pregnancies, building self-esteem, and focusing on creating positive futures.

Sub regional Management Workshop to learn about how to coordinate the sub-regional follow-up meetings.

Sub-regional Follow-up Meeting, a small scale, one-day meeting to focus on forming networks between groups working in the same geographic areas.

Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation Workshop to learn how to report according to the Peace Corps procedures and guidelines provided by PEPFAR.

Sustainability Conference to give support to active groups who are no longer working directly with a Peace Corps Volunteer in their community.

National Conference to train participants on maintaining the level of quality

information, to continue social marketing, and to promote sustainability of the groups.

VAST Grants to provide resources for community groups to develop and organize local conferences and activities for HIV/AIDS prevention training.

World AIDS Day event to promote HIV/AIDS awareness among Dominican youth.

National Health Promoter Conference to further train Healthy Communities participants who are community leaders.

Health Promoter Regional Workshop to focus on training the Health Promoters in the basic Healthy Communities curriculum of healthy decision-making which includes HIV/AIDS prevention.

Health Promoter Certification Workshop rural community leaders are trained and

certified as Healthy Community Trainers.

Brigada Verde (Green Brigade) Regional Conference to focus on training Dominican youth in basic community environmental action and healthy decision making, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

National Conference Brigada Verde, to further train Brigada Verde participants on Peer sharing of successful interventions and education on HIV/AIDS.

Five day National GLOW Girls Camp for Peer Educators to receive training in leadership, healthy decision making, prevention of HIV/AIDS and early pregnancy through the use of interactive activities.

Regional GLOW camp conferences to focus on training youth Peer Educators in the basic GLOW goals of positive decision making and HIV/AIDS prevention.

Superman Five day National Boys Camp

Superman Regional camps for boys

Sub regional GLOW conferences to reinforce local girls groups

Sports for Life (Deportes para la Vida) TOT to replicate in bateyes with children at risk.

Sports for Life National Trainer Network meetings

Gender and Discrimination Conference

OVC National Conference for professionals working with at risk youth

OVC Family Camps

GLOW/DpV National Sports Camp

Build Your Dreams economic empowerment workshops on making healthy decisions