Projects  

Promoting a healthy lifestyle, preventing HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections among street children

Duration:
August 2005 – August 2008

Donor:
Danish AIDS Foundation (AIDS Fondet)

Partners:
UNICEF; state centre for youth social services; youth social services; Kyiv and Odessa NGOs, AIDS centres, shelters and orphanages; law enforcement

Country and regions:
Kyiv and Odessa, Ukraine

Background:

According to the Ukrainian government, the main causes forcing children to leave their families are physical abuse, poverty, divorce and so on. Most of these children are between the ages of 10-16.

In terms of the risk of becoming infected with HIV and other STIs, street children belong to one of the most vulnerable groups of the population. A significant number of underage girls turn to the sex-work industry. They use the money that they earn through sex work on food, drugs and shelter. The lack of education and resources further complicates the situation. Additionally, children do not have the information necessary to make well-grounded decisions related to sex and drug use. They have practically no knowledge of the consequences of drug use (especially toxic substances). Most of them are not aware that condoms protect against HIV and other STIs.

During the first stage of the project, AFEW and UNICEF must analyse existing programmes and services, complete an evaluation of the situation as a whole, and conduct surveys among street children in Kyiv and Odessa. Such a study will uncover the main risks faced by street children and will help in establishing priorities for the future work of the project. The results of the study will be used to plan activities and will be included in a joint report for AFEW and UNICEF, which will be published and presented at a national press conference in June2006.

As part of the project, Scottish photographer David Gillanders visited Kyiv, Odessa and Kharkiv, were he completed a series of photographs demonstrating the various aspects of the lives of street children. Each one is accompanied by the story of a child. The photos will be exhibited at the international AIDS conference in Toronto in August 2006 with the aim of attracting international attention to the problem of street children in Ukraine.

Overall goal:

Reduce the risk of HIV/STI infection and prevent unwanted pregnancies among street children in Ukraine.

Main specific objectives:

• Collaborate activities with interested organisations and private persons to develop a strategy and an action plan on HIV prevention and health promotion among Ukraine’s street children.

• Increase access – both for street children and for people who work with them – to accurate information and education and to develop the potential of partner governmental and non-governmental organisations in the sphere of HIV/AIDS/STI prevention.

• Provide technical support for select local partner organisations in mobilising public action.

• Support select partner organisations in working to decrease stigmatisation of street children by society and social and medical workers.