HIV/AIDS education and campaigning in Rajasthan

In Rajasthan/India we can arrange internships and volunteering options with various projects which are about HIV/AIDS education and campaigning, targeting towards a variety of risk groups.

The focus is on prevention and social aspects related to HIV/AIDS. If you are more interested in the medical aspects, click here.

The NGO Taabar in Jaipur focuses on street children. Street children often get involved into unprotected sexual practices with men, but also with eunuchs and women. Six days per week, Taabar's ambulance van with a team consisting of a doctor, a nurse, 2 assistants and a coordinator drive to areas of Jaipur where street children are usually found, to supply medical services and awareness training.

You will assist the Taabar social workers with AIDS and STI/STD prevention awareness training, which also takes place at Bal Basera, a shelter for street children which is presented here in detail, and at Rain Basera, a shelter of migrating labourers.

Making use of practical demonstrations and illustrations you will explain relevant aspects.

Vatsalya in Jaipur focuses on another target group - long distance truck drivers and professional female sex workers. Long distance truck drivers are a main factor for the spread of HIV in India. In 2010, 315,619 truck drivers have been reached; around 60,000 of them got medical treatments and 320,870 condoms have been distributed. This is being sponsored by a tyre manufacturer - JK Tyre. The organisation is further in permanent contact with the approximately 500 female sex workers who are active in Jaipur. Cooperations are done with RSACS (Rajasthan State AIDS Control Society) and ICTC Aids test centre.

The focus of Sambhali Trust's HIV/AIDS program is on gays and lesbians. Every Sunday, a workshop is carried out with group and individual counseling including sex education, health education and Question and Answer session. The aim is also to overcome the taboo which exists in the Indian society about anything related to sexually transmitted diseases and homosexuality, resulting in a fast spread of HIV among this risk group.

As the distance between Jaipur and Jodhpur is around 330 km which takes around 5.5 hours by bus, it is difficult to combine being in Jodhpur on the weekend with being in Jaipur during the weekdays. Also it is hard to combine the two organisations in Jaipur as their work is carried out simultaneously. While Vatsalya's work usually takes place at the motorways some 20 km outside the city, Taabar is working in town.

It is possible to do internship/to volunteer with Vatsalya and Taabar on a full-time basis. For Sambhali Trust, in order to have full-time work, you would however have to get involved into the work with women's groups or general administration work. Find Sambhali's women's projects here.

Info box:

Location: Jaipur / Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Duration: minimum 1 month

Previous experience required: No

Costs: Vatsalya expects a one-time contribution of 100 USD; Trouble-free package is optional

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Included: Contact and contact person; when booking our "trouble-free package, all services of the trouble-free package are included.

Not included: Travel, insurance, visa.

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