For the past 3 years Self Help Africa in Malawi have been hosting a series of innovative sports tournaments which are helping to raise awareness, and at the same time break down the stigma of HIV/AIDS in their project areas.

Self Help is sponsoring the 'Msondole Football Trophy' and 'Msondole Netball Youth Trophy', and through both events have been encouraging teenagers and young people to discuss, and gain a greater understanding of both the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and the challenges facing those who must live their lives with the virus.

Schoolchildren across the Msondole Project area have been taking part in the competitions, while large numbers of parents have come along to support the games.

The occasions are used as an opportunity to educate local people about HIV/AIDS, with talks and presentations on the subject given between the various games.

Education and communication materials have also been produced, and they are distributed to those in attendance during the competitions.

There has already been a very positive impact from the initiative, with awareness levels being raised, and more local people attending for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) since they started.

Self Help Africa has been responsible for establishing the only VCT Centres in the Msondole area. Recent results from the centre at Bimbi village have shown that out of the 728 people who have gone for voluntary testing, 68 females, and 42 males have been found to be HIV-positive.

Community supports have been developed for those with HIV/AIDS, while a number of support groups for People Living with AIDS (PLWA's) have also been formed - and are being supported by the project with agricultural inputs and other supports to assist them in forming their own small-scale businesses.

Self Help Africa in Malawi

Self Help Africa began working in Malawi in the late 1990's - the organisation's Irish arm (formerly Self Help Development International) implementing programmes in the south of the country, and it's UK operation (formerly Harvest Help) in the north.

The organisation is currently engaged in implementing a series of area based programmes, and measures to build capacity at regional level, so that communities can improve their lives and the living standards and conditions of their people.