Twenty-five youth activists of the Grodno region are attending one of the workshops, “Peculiarities of HIV/AIDS Prevention and the Promotion of a Healthy Lifestyle among Youths,” including representatives of youth NGOs, school leaders and students’ self-government bodies.

Trainers focus on notions on HIV/AIDS, promotion of a healthy lifestyle among youths, and methods of information and educational work as part of the workshop“.

“Its important that participants of the seminar by means of role games, interactive lectures and presentations can get some practical experience,” Assistant to the head physician of the Grodno regional center of hygiene, epidemiology and public health, and one of organizers of a seminar, Yanina Sherendo, noted.

The workshop of youth leaders will contribute to the creation of conditions for the involvement of youth organizations in efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and drug addiction, and the development of healthy lifestyle habits.

Participants in the other workshop, mostly instructors with vocational schools in the Grodno region, are acquiring knowledge of the HIV/AIDS problem and on methods of conducting information and educational activities in this area.

“We believe that it is necessary to train and “methodologically strengthen” instructors at vocational schools, as it is them who provide training for youths who are the most inclined to engage in risky behavior,” said Ludmila Bliznyuk, thematic coordinator of the UNDP project.

It is planned that similar seminars will be held by the end of the year in all regional centers of Belarus.

The “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment in the Republic of Belarus” project was launched in December 2004. It is funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

For further information please contact Public Information Assistant of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment in Belarus project, Olga Satsuk, at 8-029-403-96-44, or Ludmila Bliznyuk, the Thematic Coordinator of UNDP project, at 8-029-633-72-76.