A UN-backed project is helping HIV-positive women retain their independence through micro-credit schemes
- From: Chim <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:07:55 -0700
Sunday August 26, 2007 EMPOWERING THE VULNERABLE
A UN-backed project is helping HIV-positive women retain their
independence through micro-credit schemes
Story by APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
As an HIV-positive widow in Cambodia, Srim Phan had no hope. That was
until she was encouraged to form a group, take a loan from a micro-
credit scheme and start a sewing factory.
Her life has since changed for the better, she said.
The scheme is modelled on a critically acclaimed programme known as
the Positive Partnership Project, launched in Thailand by the
Population and Community Development Association (PDA).
In 2006, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) used the PDA
as a model for a pilot project to economically empower HIV-positive
women. It helps the vulnerable women secure jobs and sustain their
well-being.
With US$22 million (725 million baht) from the UNDP, the Women and
Wealth Project provides technical and marketing training in Cambodia,
China and India. The idea is to help HIV-positive women live with
dignity and economic independence.
HIV-positive women are encouraged to work together to form small
business enterprises to support themselves and their families.
In principle, the programme allows HIV-positive people and family
members not infected by the virus to work together. It also creates
better understanding of Aids in communities and reduces the social
stigma of the virus.
''In a rapidly feminising epidemic, the socio-economic independence of
women is essential. It enables women to cope with the devastating
impact of the epidemic on their families and livelihood. Useful skills
and regular income can reduce HIV vulnerability and help positive
women live with dignity and security,'' said Catilin Wiesen, HIV team
leader at the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo.
Gender inequality and stigma are critical problems for HIV-positive
women and girls in the region. This was highlighted during the
International Congress on Aids in Asia and the Pacific held recently
in the Sri Lankan capital.
Most married women contract the virus from their husbands. When the
breadwinners die, women have difficulty achieving economic security
and finding resources to run businesses and support their children.
Some are forced to turn to the sex industry to survive.
Mechai Viravaidya, chairman of PDA, said access to credit is a human
right, and it is also the right of women living with HIV to be
economically secure and independent.
''With economic empowerment and business skills, they can overcome the
barriers associated with Aids,'' he said.
''As I have often said, to combat the issue of HIV, we must all think
outside of the box.''
Srim Phan and her group opened a garment manufacturing business in
Phnom Penh called the Modern Dress Manufacturing Factory.
In Chennai, India, an HIV-positive women's network has established a
conceptual design and printing business called Social Light
Communications. It employs two HIV-positive women and two men as
partners.
Another group of HIV-infected women in Yunnan, China has set up a
factory to make candles from bee's wax.
''This project is a demonstration that we can be economically
independent if given a level playing field and a little support,''
said Srim Phan, 27, who is the firm's manager.
She said members earn about $45 (1,500 baht) a month from the export
of clothing products to Japan and the US. ''It's not that much, but at
least we have some money to send our kids to school.''
Apart from economic security, the well-being of women living with Aids
is also ensured. Members of the project's garment factories in
Cambodia receive anti-retroviral drugs.
It isn't easy to gain access to new markets, but she remains
optimistic the group will get support from within the industry to
sustain the business.
P. Kousalya, service manager of the hand-made card printing firm in
Chennai, said: ''We are not looking for charity, but partnerships for
empowerment. If we can access even a fraction of the market, it can
make a big difference to our lives.''
The card business can generate up to $125 (4,100 baht) a month for
each member to support their families.
She is looking forward to breaking even and paying back money to the
loan scheme. Net profits will also soon be pooled into the micro-
credit programme for other HIV-positive women.
''The job makes us feel alive and gives us hope for tomorrow. It also
gives us the power to survive and to live for ourselves and
families,'' she said.
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