Channels of Hope for HIV Facilitator Training

Despite Covid restrictions, the impact of the CoHOW in participants lives was varied and tremendous. Here are a few quotes from participants who participated primarily from Asian and Africa.

One of the main things we value about the Channel of Hope Facilitator Training/Workshop is the feedback we receive from the participants which help us grow and give an opportunity to improve in areas that needs improvement. 

We decided to share with you all few of the feedbacks we received from the participants. These are from the 3 different CoH online workshop we did for 2021.  

“With so much joy, I accept this certificate.  I have already announced to our CoH networks that we have to re-group and plan our new directions for HIV work...At this point in my CoH journey,  Teenage pregnancy is on the rise in many of our communities and so many cultural, economic and religious issues hinders our efforts to come up with holistic, comprehensive, and multi-sectoral strategy to help PLHIV, and prevent rapid HIV transmission among youth and children.”   

“The sessions confirmed to me that I am more serious about forming a support system!”

“I’m so amazed by the life story of the one who shared his personal journey of living with HIV. It feels like that I got the chance to see firsthand what PLHIV needs and how they also can be channels of hope. Hearing his testimony has been such a blessing for me, make me realize that more PLHIV out there need hope, and we should be the channels of hope.”

“I like how the facilitator challenged us to think how we can help PLHIV and transgender group, knowing the limited sources and organizations to help them. Sometimes we feel like so busy and think that we don’t have time, so we decide to pass them over to someone else. But that day I realized that I need to be involved too, no matter how small it was. Knowing that they trust me to share about their status means they trust that I will help them.”

“This workshop had led me on a more in depth understanding towards PLHIV, be they transgender or people infected with HIV. I would say that I understand their feelings slightly better and brought up certain possible approaches that I could attempt when meeting them”.

“All the sessions were good but what stood out for me this time was the tree of STIGMA. Looking at the roots and the fruits it bears. now I understand why people react differently regarding HIV and AIDS. STIGMA is really a big issue here in Zambia within families and communities.”

We hope to have a face to face Channels of Hope Facilitator Training in the near future.