Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS The INERELA+ Experience

1. Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDSThe INERELA+ Experience Presentation By: Carolyne a. Opinde CELEBRATE LIFE CONFERENCE 8th May 2010 Fontainebleau Community Church

2. Brief History • Prior to 2000 individual HIV+ Religious Leaders working independently of each other • Ds. Christo Greyling SA • Canon Gideon Byamugisha Uganda • August 2001 All Africa Anglican consultation on HIV and AIDS • Canon Gideon Byamugisha (Uganda) • Rev. Japé Heath (South Africa) • Rev. Francis Kalemera (Rwanda) • October 2003 – ANERELA+ Launch during GNP+ Meeting in Kampala, Uganda – eight members • Today we have over 4,000 members across the globe majority of who are living with or personally affected by HIV in Africa. Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

3. Who are we? • INERELA+ is an International network of religious leaders –lay or ordained, living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS. • Personally Affected , means that a spouse, sibling, parent or child is living with HIV and AIDS. Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

4. The INERELA+ Face INERELA+ members and staff representing Africa, European and Central Asia, the Americas and Asia/Pacific Regions at the 5th AGM held on 1st October 2009 Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: Carolyne A. Opinde Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

5. Our Vision and Mission Vision: A world where HIV and AIDS related stigma, infections and deaths are eliminated. Mission Statement: INERELA+ exists to equip, empower and engage its members to live positively and openly as agents of hope and change in their faith communities and countries Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

6. Our Objectives Objective 1: To Establish and maintain highly effective networks across the globe that equip, empower and engage members to overcome shame, stigma, discrimination, denial, inaction and misaction (SSDDIM). Objective 2: To enable members to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate anti-SSDDIM and Pro-SAVE programmes at congregational and community level for enhanced prevention, treatment, care and support. Objective 3: To build the capacity of the network in effective communication, publicity and information sharing Objective 4: To advocate for policies and programmes at global, regional, national and local community level that reduce vulnerability to HIV especially among marginalised and excluded groups. Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

7. Where We work We work in 4 regions in Africa (below) , Asia/Pacific , The Americas and Europe and Central Asia Region Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

8. Our Strategy Religious Across the globe during the 5th INERELA+ AGM Interfaith Stigma and discrimination training in Kenya Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

9. Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

10. Country Network: INERELA+ Kenya • Gained representation in national policy- and decision making bodies, such as National AIDS Control Council (NACC) committees • Sparked a new HIV response in faith communities, including increased uptake of VCT and more support for OVC • Changed attitudes, leading to greater openness about HIV and HIV status among religious leaders • Expanded from 44 to 1,000 members and formed 25 support groups • Reached underserved populations on Lamu Island and in Laikipia District • Mobilized new resources and forged new partnerships Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

11. Summit of High level Religious Leaders 2010 INERELA+ members at the Summit of High Level Religious Leaders in Den Dolder The Netherlands 22-23 March 2010 L-R: Bishop J. Okombo, Rev. Fr. JP Mokgethi-Heath, Ms. P. Mabele, Pst. P. Sawo, Sheikh A. Banda, Rev. C. Greyling and Canon G. Byamugisha Photo: Leo Huizinga/Cordaid Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

12. Advocacy: Reduce HIV vulnerability 2010 Canon Gideon Byamugisha, a co-founder of INERELA+, takes a lead in submitting a petition to the parliament, signed by over 450,000 people, against the Homosexuality Bill in Uganda. Photo: Stephen Wandera, Story Source: http://www.avaaz.org/dailymonitor Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

13. Dissemination of Network Evaluation 2009 INERELA+ European and Central Asia and Southern Africa regions and the network's M&E consultant INERELA+ Francophone Region – Madagascar and DRC Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

14. INERELA+ Asia/Pacific members Stigma and Discrimination Reduction workshop in Nagpur India, 2008 Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010

15. Network members from Kenya, South Africa and Asia/Pacific during the launch of “Beyond Stigma” a publication of INERELA+ Kenya Photo : Carolyne A Opinde Contact 19 Girton Road, 3rd Floor Parktown Johannesburg, SA Tel: 011 484 0088 Fax: 011 484 4422 info.inerela.org www.inerela.org Network members and representatives from partner organizations during INERELA+ Americas Regional Reference Group meeting, December 2009. Photo: Rev. Fr. JP Mokgethi-Heath Faith Leaders Responding to HIV and AIDS-The INERELA+ Experience , By Carolyne A. Opinde 8th May 2010