SUMMARY:

Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) work in civil society organizations (CSOs) that focus on HIV and AIDS

relief under the Community HIV/AIDS Outreach Project (CHOP) and in the education system at the primary

school and district levels under the Schools and Community Resources Project (SCRP). All CHOP and

SCRP PCVs will be encouraged to work with both in-school and out-of-school youth in delivering

Abstinence/Be Faithful (AB) messages through life skills and peer education sessions delivered in

classrooms or in association with extracurricular school activities and through community events organized

by youth and adult volunteers. Activities in this program area aim to encourage positive life styles and health

-seeking behaviors among youth and to help them develop positive gender norms and expectations. SCRP

PCVs will specialize in training teachers and mobilizing in-school youth while CHOP PCVs will focus more

on training out-of-school peer educators, community citizen volunteers, and CSO employees and mobilizing

traditional, business and religious leaders in supporting community- and school-based prevention activities.

CHOP and SCRP PCVs and their counterparts will be encouraged to work together in designing and

delivering comprehensive HIV prevention training and outreach programs in their rural communities.

Prevention training and outreach activities will be conducted in the KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West,

Northern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces.

BACKGROUND:

To date, the program in South Africa has relied primarily on PEPFAR-funded PCVs assigned to the

(previous) NGO Capacity Building Project. Although the FY 2007 program still utilizes PEPFAR-funded

PCVs, the Schools and Community Resources Project (SCRP) and the (now) Community HIV/AIDS

Outreach Project (CHOP) were significantly revised in FY 2007 so that all CHOP and SCRP PCVs and their

counterparts can be involved in prevention AB activities. In FY 2008 the program will not place PEPFAR-

funded PCVs and instead use PEPFAR funds to enable all PCVs to train service providers in HIV

prevention and to conduct HIV prevention outreach to various youth groups.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: HIV Prevention Training

In FY 2008, approximately 100 PCVs (key legislative issue) and 100 counterparts will receive training in HIV

and AIDS prevention (key legislative issue), using the Peace Corps' Life Skills Manual (an internationally

recognized best practice model) and other peer education materials. The peer education and life skills

training will focus on building skills among youth in communication, decision-making, thinking, managing

emotions, assertiveness, self-esteem building, resisting peer pressure and building relationships.

ACTIVITY 2: Project Design and Management Training

Approximately 100 PCVs and 100 counterparts will attend Peace Corps' Project Design and Management

training to develop skills in participatory development and implementation of HIV and AIDS activities with

target groups. This training will take place in the context of the AB prevention training and will find

application across all program areas.

ACTIVITY 3: Organizational Capacity Building Training

Approximately 60 CHOP PCVs and 60 CHOP counterparts will attend Organizational Capacity Building

training to enable them to develop or strengthen policies, systems and practices that will enable CSOs to

deliver quality and sustainable HIV and AIDS programs. This training will take place in the context of the AB

prevention training and will find application across all program areas.

ACTIVITY 4: Grant Proposal Writing and Monitoring and Evaluation Training

Approximately 100 PCVs and 100 counterparts will attend Grant Proposal Writing and Monitoring and

Evaluation training to enable them to prepare Peace Corps PEPFAR Volunteer Activity Support and

Training (VAST) proposals and U.S. Embassy PEPFAR Small Grant proposals. The training will also

support the development and use of appropriate monitoring, reporting and evaluation tools with their host

schools and CSOs. This training will take place in the context of the AB prevention training and will find

application across all program areas.

ACTIVITY 5: Delivery of Life Skills Sessions

Approximately 100 PCVs and 100 counterparts will deliver life skills sessions in schools and communities,

using and developing peer educators in the process. Teachers in the schools and supportive adults and

business, traditional and religious leaders in the communities also will be used to champion HIV and AIDS

activities. Male behaviors and gender equity (key legislative issue), reducing violence and coercion and

stigma/discrimination are directly addressed in the prevention activities. PCVs work with counterparts in the

schools and communities to ensure that, on completion of their service, their initiatives continue with school

and community support. 3000 individuals will be reached through community outreach that promotes HIV

prevention and 120 peer educators and other service providers will be trained to promote HIV prevention.

Both CHOP and SCRP PCVs contribute to the US Mission's country emphasis on prevention by uniquely

providing American citizen assistance in rural communities. Their activities are also closely aligned to the

South African government strategies in each of the provinces in which PCVs work.

SUMMARY:

Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), who work in civil society organizations (CSOs) that focus on home-based

care and that address stigma and discrimination against those with HIV and AIDS, are assigned to the

Community HIV/AIDS Outreach Project (CHOP). PEPFAR funds will be used to train these CHOP PCVs

and their counterparts in (a) organizational capacity building-that is the strengthening of organizational and

human capacity (b) PLHIV caregiver support-that is enabling them to meet the physical and psychosocial

needs of those living with HIV and AIDS and (c) empowering CSO employees and HBC volunteer workers

to address stigma, discrimination, and gender-based violence. CSO employees and HBC volunteer

workers, who work with PLHIV caregivers, are the primary target populations for the PCVs and their

counterparts. PCVs and their counterparts may also provide direct outreach to caregivers of PLHIV. PCVs

will be primarily placed in the rural areas of North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal

provinces. Funds requested in FY 2008 will cover the costs of training of PCVs and their counterparts and,

through the VAST mechanism, the training of CSO employees, HBC volunteer workers and PLHIV

caregivers.

BACKGROUND:

To date, the program in South Africa has relied primarily on PEPFAR-funded PCVs assigned to the

(previous) NGO Capacity Building Project. Although the FY 2007 program still utilizes PEPFAR-funded

PCVs, beginning in FY 2008 there will be no PEPFAR-funded PCVs and instead PCVs and their

counterparts assigned to the (now) Community HIV/AIDS Outreach Project (CHOP) will be encouraged to

be involved in training and outreach activities that will enable PLHIV caregivers, HBC volunteers and CSO

employees to meet the needs of PLHIV and to address HIV/AIDS stigma, discrimination and gender-based

violence.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

In FY 2008 40 CHOP PCVs and their counterparts will devote more than 50% of their time to training PLHIV

caregivers, CVO employees, and HBC volunteer workers in ways of addressing the needs of PLHIV and

addressing stigma, discrimination and gender-based violence. While these PCVs and their counterparts will

still be engaged in organizational capacity building assistance, they will be encouraged to become more

actively involved in the above issues. In FY 2008 the program will not place PEPFAR-funded PCVs and

instead will rely on the use of PEPFAR-funded staff to train and engage all CHOP PCVs in palliative care

and stigma, discrimination and gender-based violence reduction.

ACTIVITY 1:

In FY 2008, approximately 40 PCVs and 40 counterparts will receive training in meeting the physical and

psychosocial needs of those living with HIV and AIDS, using internationally and locally produced materials.

The training will provide skills and knowledge in counseling (e.g. dealing with self-stigma on the part of

PLHIV and the negative attitudes of others), physical care (e.g., helping PLHIV in bathing, eating, dressing,

using the toilet), household assistance (e.g. cleaning, cooking, shopping, running errands, gardening) and

legal and financial assistance (e.g. government health grants).

ACTIVITY 2:

Approximately 40 PCVs and 40 counterparts will receive training in addressing stigma, discrimination and

gender-based violence, using internationally and locally produced materials. The training will focus on

combating physical violence directed against PLHIV, particularly HIV-infected women, (e.g. punching,

kicking), psychological intimidation (e.g. threats to harm a woman's children, destruction of favorite clothes

or photographs, repeated insults meant to demean and erode self-esteem, forced isolation from friends and

relatives, threats of physical abuse), and financial punishment (relatives taking away property after the

death of a husband, a husband limiting or forbidding access to his income).

ACTIVITY 3:

Approximately 40 PCVs and 40 counterparts will train 100 CSO employees, HBC volunteer workers and

PLHIV caregivers in topics addressed in Activity 1 and Activity 2 above, using the PEPFAR VAST

mechanism to fund the training. Their activities are also closely aligned to the South African government

strategies in each of the provinces in which PCVs work. NOTE: PCVs involved in this program area are part

of the population of PCVs who are required to participate in Activities 2 and 4 described under the

prevention program area. CHOP PCVs in this program area are part of the population of PCVs who may

participate in Activity 3 described under the prevention program area.

These activities will contribute to the PEPFAR goal for reaching 10 million HIV-infected and affected

individuals with care through the provision of training and capacity building.

SUMMARY:

Thirty Community HIV/AIDS Outreach Project (CHOP) Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) and twenty Schools

and Community Resources Project (SCRP) PCVs will be involved in this program area. PEPFAR funds will

be used to train the CHOP PCVs and their counterparts in organizational capacity building-that is the

strengthening of organizational and human capacity. Both CHOP and SCRP PCVs will receive PEPFAR-

funded training in OVC caretaker support-that is enabling PCVs and their counterparts to develop the skills

and knowledge needed to meet the physical, psychosocial and financial needs of OVC and OVC

caretakers. Using the PEPFAR VAST (Volunteer Activity Support and Training) mechanism, these PCVs

and their counterparts will train OVC caretakers, CSO employees and OVC volunteer workers. SCRP PCVs

will specialize in training teachers and OVC peer support groups in the schools while CHOP PCVs will focus

more on the training CSO counterparts and OVC volunteer works, and out-of-school OVC peer support

groups and mobilizing traditional, business and religious leaders in supporting community- and school-

based OVC support activities. CHOP and SCRP PCVs and their counterparts will be encouraged to work

together in designing and delivering comprehensive OVC and OVC caretaker training and outreach

programs in their rural communities. OVC training and outreach activities will be conducted in the KwaZulu-

Natal, Limpopo, North West, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces.

BACKGROUND:

To date, the program in South Africa has relied primarily on PEPFAR-funded PCVs assigned to the

(previous) NGO Capacity Building Project. Although the FY 2007 program still utilizes PEPFAR-funded

PCVs, in FY 2008 there will be no PEPFAR-funded PCVs and instead all CHOP and SCRP PCVs will be

encouraged to be involved in training and outreach activities that will enable OVC caretakers, community

outreach volunteers and CSO employees to better meet the needs of OVC.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1:

In FY 2008, approximately 50 PCVs and 50 counterparts will receive training in meeting the physical and

psychosocial needs of OVC, using internationally and locally produced materials. The training will provide

skills and knowledge in counseling (e.g. dealing with feelings of isolation , stigma and discrimination and the

negative attitudes of others, production of memory books/boxes), physical care (e.g. helping OVC and

caretakers establish trench and raised gardens, nutrition education, training in sewing clothes), and legal

and financial assistance (e.g. helping OVC and caretakers access South African Government social grants

e.g. child-support grants and care-dependency grants).

ACTIVITY 2:

Approximately 50 PCV and 50 counterparts will train 50 teachers, OVC peer educators, CSO employees,

HBC volunteer workers and OVC caretakers in topics addressed in Activity 1, using the PEPFAR VAST

mechanism to fund the training. This will result in improved care provided to 3000 OVC. PCVs and

counterparts will also directly provide outreach to OVC. The CHOP and SCRP PCVs will contribute to this

program area of the U.S. Mission by uniquely providing American citizen assistance in rural communities.

Their activities are also closely aligned to the South African government strategies in each of the provinces

in which PCVs work.

NOTE: PCVs involved in this program area are part of the population of PCVs who are required to

participate in Activities 2 and 4 described under the prevention program area. CHOP PCVs in this program

area are part of the population of PCVs who may participate in Activity 3 described under the prevention

program area.

SUMMARY:

Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), who work in civil society organizations (CSOs) that focus on counseling

and testing services, are assigned to the Community HIV/AIDS Outreach Project (CHOP). PEPFAR funds

will be used to train these CHOP PCVs and their counterparts in (a) organizational capacity building, i.e.

strengthening organizational and human capacity; and (b) promoting counseling and testing, particularly

among youth. PCVs in this program area do not provide pre- and post-counseling service but are involved

mainly in local organization capacity development, helping their host CSOs improve their systems and

practices to motivate youth to use counseling and testing services. The primary target populations for these

interventions are CSO employees, community citizens, volunteers, and traditional, religious and business

leaders. PCVs will be placed in the rural areas of North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal

provinces. Funds requested in FY 2008 will cover the costs of training PCVs and their counterparts and,

through the Volunteer Activity Support and Training (VAST) mechanism, the training of CSO employees and

community volunteers involved in promoting counseling and testing.

BACKGROUND:

To date, the program in South Africa has relied primarily on PEPFAR-funded PCVs assigned to the

(previous) non-governmental (NGO) capacity-building project. Although the FY 2007 program still utilizes

PEPFAR-funded PCVs, beginning in FY 2008 there will be no PEPFAR-funded PCVs and instead it is

anticipated that one to four CHOP PCVs will assist CSOs with a significant need to improve their CT

capacity in reaching out to youth.

ACTIVITY 1:

As noted in the prevention program area, approximately 100 PCVs and 100 counterparts will receive

training in HIV prevention in FY 2008. They will deliver life skills sessions in schools and the community,

using and developing peer educators in the process. One to four CHOP PCVs will respond to their host

CSO wishes to strengthen their CT capacity. Through the PEPFAR VAST mechanism, these PCVs will be

able to pilot activities that will increase the number of youth who will avail themselves of counseling and

testing services. The CHOP PCVs will contribute to this program area by uniquely providing American

citizen assistance in rural communities. Their activities are also closely aligned to the South African

government strategies in each of the provinces in which PCVs work.

NOTE: PCVs involved in this program area are part of the population of PCVs who are required to

participate in Activities 2, 3, and 4 described in the Prevention program area.

A PEPFAR VAST (Volunteer Activity Support and Training) Coordinator, Program Assistant and driver will

provide PEPFAR programmatic and training support to 150 Volunteers assigned to the Community

HIV/AIDS Outreach Project and Schools and Community Resources Project. The Program Assistant will

design and facilitate HIV/AIDS workshops. The PEPFAR VAST Coordinator, who oversees PEPFAR-

funded projects within Peace Corps, will train PCVs and their counterparts in project design and

management and project proposal writing and will be responsible for the initial screening of proposals,

monitoring project implementation, reporting on project results, and liaising with the Task Force. Lastly, the

driver will support the logistical needs for conducting the workshops and conducting monitoring field visits to

VAST recipients.