HIV/AIDS education, awareness & prevention
Until a cure for HIV/AIDS is found, education is the only vaccine.
One Heart Source is at its core an education center. To create lasting social change begins with the lighting of the fire of knowledge within individuals and communities, and then the practical know-how to apply that learning.
As our major vision in establishing these centers focuses on limiting the impact on HIV/AIDS in our target areas, OHS provides HIV/AIDS awareness and education in schools, marketplaces, community events—anywhere where anyone is willing to learn more on how to face the HIV/AIDS reality. Learning about transmission and prevention is fundamental, so is the understanding that destigmatizing the disease is the first step in fighting the disease, poverty, and inequality.
We have taken these steps in our Mateves and Kisongo communities:
610 people tested to date
739 students taught
By knowing one’s status each person acknowledges one’s responsibility to protect his or her own health and the health of their loved ones. Testing is a prime venue for people to come face to face with facts, to get educated, to get counseling on available options, and ultimately to get empowered.
This epidemic hits hardest at young and productive people between 15-24 years old. Education in public schools arms the next generation with the information to end a socially crippling disease. Curriculum taught in school is age appropriate, is interactive and lively, and focuses on empowering mindset and behavior.
Migrant workers and the connection to the spread of HIV is symptomatic of quickly developing areas where the rural has no time to catch up with the lure of urban wealth and opportunity. We take important information to factories and factory workers—if living a better life is important, why not taking care of one’s health?
The crisis cannot move forward without real understanding from the community. There needs to be a transcendence, an unhousing of preconceived tied-down notions about what HIV/AIDS is and what it means for the entirety of the community, and what it will mean for generations to come if collective action is not taken now. It will take a joint community effort to destigmatize, and it must happen on a grassroots level through education and candid discussion.
We look to strengthen available services to expectant mothers because they are the backbone of what will shape the next generation. Making free HIV testing, counseling, and pre and post natal care, we can work to eliminate the disease burden for our kids.
HIV/AIDS testing – 
