Peer HIV Prevention for Sex Workers in Malawi

Summary

This project provides 120 sex workers in one of the poorest communities in Malawi with the skills to reduce their risk of HIV infection, and the confidence to use them.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Sex workers in Malawi face enormous problems - they are often women with families and no other source of income, and they face abuse from their clients, and neglect from the law. We are working in one of the poorest communities in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, and we offer the participants new skills for enabling them to live more safely, generate income from other sources, and perform their stories to audiences such as the police, by whom they would never normally be heard or respected.

How will this project solve this problem?

If we can train and employ core groups of sex workers to work with their younger peers, we can reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection and abuse.

Potential Long Term Impact

This project will empower 120 sex workers to protect themselves, to generate alternative sources of income, and to influence the attitudes and policies, particularly among the police, that can provide them with legal protection.

Project Message

"TfaC brings us support and methods - it is up to us to put them in the context of our lives. I am happy because I know that now I am going to be able to help other people change their lives too"
- Annesi Linje, Peer trainer & ex sex worker

Resources