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Organisations of disabled people develop their AIDS Competence in Mozambique
20-25 October, Mozambique

A coaching team of the Constellation launched the AIDS Competence Process with Handicap International in Mozambique. Organisations of disabled people and AIDS organisations across 3 provinces built their capacity to facilitate the AIDS Competence Process.
"We were expecting people from outside to come and bring us stuff. Material stuff in our communities. Knowledge stuff in this workshop. But instead this process is helping us to think for ourselves, about ourselves first," shared a participant during the workshop.

Various organisations of Disabled People (blind, deaf, physically disabled) and AIDS organisations (Mozambiquan Network of AIDS Service organisations, Network of People living with HIV/AIDS, National AIDS Council) participated in the learning event.

They explored the strengths in people and communities, the concept of local response and developed ‘a dream for AIDS Competence’. “Yesterday marked my life. I'm holding on to the ideas of 'concern', 'strength' and ‘dream’, “ shared a participant.

Participants did SALT visits during two days, learning by entering homes and neighbourhoods. They experienced the power of appreciation. "I couldn't believe what happened during the SALT visit. After just 1 hour of meeting with someone who had been HIV+ in secret for many years, she disclosed her status to our visiting team, and said she was ready to share with her neighbours. After 1 hour!" said a participant.

Another participant shared: ”People live with a lot of stress and burden, with no one to talk to. These SALT visits give people someone to offload to. People open their doors and their homes to us - strangers - because they see us as friends. We come informally, and people share their concerns and secret things."

The AIDS Competence Process also challenged the way NGO’s work. «The community people have never been able to say 'We did this for ourselves'. Things are always being done for them by World Vision and other organizations," explained a participant.

The last days, coaches introduced the self-assessment framework, and participants shaped a strategy for action by each organisation over the next 3 months and a national inter-organisational support team.