Pre-ICAAP 2009, 6-8 August 2009, Bali, Indonsia

Skills Building Workshops for Effective Interfaith Actions on HIV and AIDS
“Empowering People, Strengthening Networks”
Dhyana Pura Hotel, Bali, Indonesia, 6-8 August 2009

Main Organizer: Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA)

Co-Facilitators for Skills Building Workshops:

Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), World Council of Churches (WCC), Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA), MICAH Network, World AIDS Campaign, INERELA+, UNAIDS, Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT)

Local Host: INTERNA and United Evangelical Mission Anti-AIDS Programme

The Skills Building Workshop for Effective Interfaith Actions on HIV and AIDS is an event sponsored by the Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA) at Dhyana Pura Hotel in Bali, Indonesia on 6-8 August 2009 just before the International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), 9-13 August 2009.

The objectives of the pre-ICAAP event are to exchange experiences of interfaith responses to HIV and AIDS and to develop effective interfaith strategies:
1) To end stigma and discrimination, denial and trivialization of HIV and AIDS in faith-based communities;
2) To strengthen community systems, promote universal access and build inclusive communities in all their diversities;
3) To share approaches in dealing with vulnerability in HIV epidemic;
4) To strengthen the advocacy platform for justice, human rights and human dignity in diverse communities and the promotion of responsible tourism.

AINA has invited the following expert groups and partners to help co-facilitate the exchange of experiences and skills building sessions: Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), World Council of Churches (WCC), Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), World YWCA, MICAH Network, World AIDS Campaign, Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT), INERELA+, and the United Evangelical Mission (UEM).

The skills building sessions are:
Building HIV Competent Faith-Based Organizations: Manoj Kurian and Calle Almedal Moderator: Dr. Alphinus Kambodji

Interfaith Networking with People Living with HIV and AIDS:

Peter Borges and Erlinda Senturias

Dealing with Vulnerability in HIV Epidemic:

Greg Manning and Sophie Dilmitis Moderator:

Interfaith Collaboration in Comprehensive Community Based Interventions:

Interfaith Network on AIDS in Thailand (INAT)

Rights-Based Advocacy and Campaigns:

Thabo Sephuma, Edwin Nichols and Dr. Alphinus Kambodji

Tourism and HIV and AIDS: Caesar D’Mello

AINA as an organization is committed to work together with people living with HIV and AIDS to build caring communities, promote and protect human rights and well-being of children, women and adult living with and affected by HIV and AIDS and to create a supportive environment at country, regional and international level of faith-based responses to HIV and AIDS.
AINA as an organization is committed to work together with people living with HIV and AIDS to build caring communities, promote and protect human rights and well-being of children, women and adult living with and affected by HIV and AIDS and to create a supportive environment at country, regional and international level of faith-based responses to HIV and AIDS. AINA is bringing the diverse experiences of its current networks in Asia – the Interfaith Network on AIDS in Thailand (INAT), the Indonesian Interfaith Network on AIDS (INTERNA), and the Indian Interfaith Network on AIDS (IINA) and will launch the book A Handbook on HIV and AIDS: Guidelines for an Interfaith Response.

As resources are limited, we urge all participants to pay for their own transport to and from Bali, Indonesia and the registration fee of US$200.00 which covers board, lodging and materials. For participants staying in Dhyana Pura with single room accommodation, the registration fee is US$ 300.00. For those participants who are staying in other hotels, the registration fee is $100.00.

All participants are requested to fill in the registration form and submit this to the AINA Office attention Mr. Ekapong Fongmoon, 1/100 Rattanakosin, Muang District, Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand so we could alert Dr. Alphinus Kambodji, our local contact in Bali for appropriate arrangements.

See you in Bali.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Erlinda N. Senturias
Consultant on HIV and AIDS
Christian Conference of Asia
c/o Payap University
Muang District
Chiang Mai 50000, ThailandEmail erlinda.senturias@gmail.com

For more information, please contact:

Mr.Ekapong Fongmoon

Asian Interfaith Network on HIV/AIDS (AINA)

E-mail: ainaasia@yahoo.com Tel./Fax: +66-53-247460

Update ICAAP 2009, Bali, Indonesia

Call for Volunteers

"We need as many volunteers as possible. But we are targeting at least 313 volunteers to participate. So we still need about 200 more volunteers for this 9th ICAAP," the congress's Volunteer Coordinator Madrina Mazhar said.Jakarta (10 June 2009) - In modern societies the most basic of all values is one of cooperation, helping one another, which will in turn help themselves.Besides being helpful to others, volunteerism is one way to ensure your professional skills are kept honed, your resume stays up to date, and you get new connections and contacts while away from school or work.The 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) to be held in Bali, Indonesia, from 9 to 13 August 2009 is an important and innovative congress in offering new ways to strengthen the health system in different countries by the sharing of information and experience, sharing of new scientific innovations, and is proof that the participation of civil society at all levels in policy making and monitoring is the best solution to address cross-border HIV pandemic.In Asia and the Pacific, with its diverse cultures, religion, economy and politics, AIDS remains the main concern: AIDS remains one of the highest causes of death and loss of work for people aged 15 to 44 years. Although the total number of AIDS cases in Asia is relatively low compared to Africa, evidence shows that HIV infection is on an upward trend.With the theme "Empowering People, Strengthening Networks", the 9th ICAAP will bring together individuals, institutions, companies, societies, and networks, whether governmental, non-governmental, and private sector, to share experiences and work together towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015 of reducing the AIDS pandemic.The 9th ICAAP needs at least 313 volunteers. Of this total, only 102 people have registered for volunteer work in this biggest AIDS congress in Asia and the Pacific."We need as many volunteers as possible. But we are targeting at least 313 volunteers to participate. So we still need about 200 more volunteers for this 9th ICAAP," the congress's Volunteer Coordinator Madrina Mazhar said.Madrina said that volunteers should have adequate understanding ofvolunteerism, adding that many benefits can be gained by being one,including a valuable opportunity to be involved in a major international event that will involve the participation of representatives from 65 countries."ICAAP volunteers will have the opportunity to significantly contribute to the success of ICAAP. They will be able to meet and connect with new people from countries around Asia and the Pacific. What's more, we could build our own networking with people from all over," she said.Volunteer contribution in this event is significant to the success of the 9th ICAAP as their participation will be needed in all aspects of the congress organization. Requirements for being a 9th ICAAP volunteer include already being 18 years old, ability to speak and understand English, good interpersonal skills, as well as having empathy and knowledge on issues related with people living with HIV (PLHIV).Those interested to become volunteers should register and receive moreinformation through the website http://www.icaap9. org<http://www.icaap9. org/> . Registration is open until July 4, 2009.

For more information, please contact:

Ika NazaruddinPacto
ConvexPh 62-21 571-9973
Ika_nazar@cbn. net.id Madrina MazharVolunteer CoordinatorPh. 62-361 9134040 volunteer.programme @icaap9.org Ristya ParamitaPublic Information OfficerPh. 62-21-39838845/ 46ristya.paramita@ icaap9.org