HIV Strategy Development Workshop 19th to the 21st of October 2011 Bronte Hotel, Harare, Zimbabwe

Prepared by Peter Bare EFZ

WHY IS THE CHURCH UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO ADDRESS HIV/AIDS?

The church forms the largest social institution within Zimbabwe the church has tremendous infrastructure. The majority of churches have well developed social programmes and projects. Churches have a wealth of potential in its members with their variety of passions and gifts, who are already internally motivated to make a difference.

Why the church

The church has the platform to address valuebased lifestyle choices relating to sex and sexuality. Churches have the platform to demonstrate unconditional love, forgiveness and acceptance. All faith communities have the calling to serve and to care for others. The church therefore needs to be a primary and essential partner in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Best Practice

Contextualization of sermons and teachings (AOG, BICC, ACOP, PHC , WPEM, NBC, VF) Provision of pastoral care and counseling training Institutionalization of HIV project activities in the church eg AOG (AIDS Action Committee), BICC

Formation of support groups eg ACOP, BICC, AOG, WPEM, NBC, VF

Public disclosure

Best practice
HIV/AIDS awareness and sensitization volunteerism in care and counselling congregation participation in events that relate to HIV/AIDS seminars/workshops on CHBC, parenting skills, youth issues, etc. Youth peer education programs

Some local churches in Action

FAGAABZ SUPPORT GROUP (FAMILY ACTION GROUP AGAINST AIDS BULAWAYO ZIMBABWE) FAGAABZ is a support group of thirty three registered members initiated by WPEM. Twenty seven females and seven males. All are on ART Programme. They are into Jersey knitting, Door mat making and Jam making. They meet every Wednesday at BICC Pumula North from 9 to 11am.

Some local churches in action

1st Picture: Youth from AOG Harare Province taking instruction from their Team Advisor Pastor Mandaza during AOG Harare HIV and AIDS Sport Tournament done at Allan Wilson grounds. The uniforms that they are wearing is a courtesy Africare through CDC. 2nd Picture: on the 1st of December 2010 (World AIDS Day) youth from BICC, AOG, VF, NBC and WPEM in Bulawayo marched from Matopos Book centre towards BICC Central Church. As they were marching they distributed over IEC materials. The banner they are holding reads: SEX THRILLS BUT AIDS KILLS, PRESERVE SEX FOR MARRIAGE

Some local churches in action

1st picture: EFZ Programs Officer on HIV and Officer (jean jacket) discussing with the match officials from AOG Harare during their HIV and AIDS sporting tournament

2nd picture: Ps Phiri from Epworth AOG addressing the church on HIV and AIDS during the Sunday sermon.

Some local churches

1st Picture: Bulawayo National Baptist Youths

2nd Pictures: Norton Pentecostal Holiness Church

Challenges in implementation
Churches face challenges in implementing HIV/AIDS initiatives and they are listed and ranked as follows:
Inadequate resources Limited staff/personnel High expectation from community and church Limited appropriate skills Discrimination and stigma Too much workload

Key priority areas

CAPACITY BUILDING Support bible college HIV/AIDS training components to make leader training more in the face of this current pandemic Churches should be trained in proposal development in order to improve capacity for sourcing funds to be used for HIV/AIDS programmes Strengthening EFZ HIV and AIDS grass roots structures through training of the core teams in line with country strategic plan

Key priority areas

Research Situational analysis of the Churchs response to HIV and AIDS in zimbabwe Research on MCP in the church
Explain the silence of the church

Key priority ares

Networking and partnerships

 The Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe has 262 denominations which translates to over 10 000 local churches. As we are discussing in this workshop lets try to think how the church can be involved or involve, equiped.