Announcing the Young Women's Dialogue, February 2004

In order to examine the gender-based challenges faced by
young women living with HIV and AIDS in East and Southern
Africa, the International Community of Women Living with
HIV/AIDS (ICW) and the Youth Against AIDS Network (YAAN)
are planning a regional meeting in South Africa in February
2004.

The meeting will provide a space for 20 young women living
with HIV and AIDS from East and Southern Africa to explore
the range of issues affecting them. It will also establish
a regional support mechanism for young women living with
HIV and AIDS, that is focused on advocacy at national and
regional level. The meeting will also inform programming of
ICW,YAAN and other like minded organisations in as far as
working with young women living with HIV is concerned.

We are inviting young HIV positive women aged 15-30 to
apply to participate in the meeting. Application forms are
attached to this letter.

The following selection criteria will apply:

Applicants should:
- Should be residing in one of the following countries:
Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, South
Africa, Swaziland Uganda and Zimbabwe.
- Have disclosed your HIV positive status and be openly
living with HIV/AIDS in your country;
- Work at both a community and national level and possibly
regional level;
- Be employed in a position that is focused on working with
people living with HIV/AIDS and/or human rights and/or are
a member of a PLWHA organisation;
- Be employed by or a member of an NGO or organisation
promoting women's rights;
- Be employed by or a member of an NGO or organisation
promoting youth rights;
- Be comfortable working and speaking in English;
- Live and work in Africa;
- Be willing to share their experiences with other
participants during the workshop;
- After the workshop applicants will contact other young
women in their communities to pass on what they have
learned;
- Be a member of ICW or willing to become a member of ICW
- Be available to participate in the follow-up activities
after the workshop.

Please send application forms together with a letter of
support from your organisation to:

The Coordinator
The Young Women?s Dialogue
The International Community of Women Living With HIV
Unit 6 Building 1, Canonbury Yard
190a New North Road, London N1 7B England
Email: [email protected]

The deadline for the submission of applications is the 9th
of January 2004

If you or your organisation wishes to support the meeting
either in-kind or financially, please feel free to contact
us at the address provided above.

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Promise Mthembu
Global Advocacy Officer (Sexual and Reproductive Rights)
International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW)
Email: [email protected]