Bridging the Gap at AIDS 2012
Monday morning, Firelight Foundation and the American Jewish World Service will present at the International AIDS conference. Bridging the Gap: Empowering 600 Million Adolescent Girls to Lead an AIDS-free Generation will demonstrate both why we must invest in girls and how to develop effective girl-centered programming.
Globally, the distinct economic, social, and cultural vulnerability of 600 million adolescent girls living in developing countries makes them particularly susceptible to HIV. Yet, the development community has failed to build girl-centered strategies into its HIV prevention programs.
Grassroots organizations will present their evidence of girl-centered HIV prevention programs that are integrated with broader sexual and reproductive health, financial literacy, vocational skills and self-esteem building interventions based on research and outcomes from successful models in Kenya and Malawi. Panelists will discuss the constraints and opportunities presented by current policy and funding trends and the actions needed to foster an environment that allows girls to reach their full potential.
We hope you can join us for this important conversation. If you aren't able to make it, feel free to submit your questions here and we'll try to include them in the session question and answer period.
Moderator: Françoise Girard, International Women’s Health Coalition
Panelists: Kelly Hallman from Population Council, Tifa Augustus Ngoma from Nkhotakota AIDS Support Organization, Felistah Mbithe from Fortress of Hope Africa, and Shannon Kowalski from Open Society Foundations.