NO! CHAP stands for Community HIV/AIDS Program. CHAP began in 2009 as the need was identified for an effective program in reaching the residents of the Buikwe district in Uganda.
CHAP fits under the umbrella of International Needs (IN) Uganda. It is one of many programs that IN implements. Child sponsorship is another program under that same umbrella.
Let me introduce the staff to you. There are two paid full time staff; Kennedy Otundo - Program Manager; and Collins Wandera Wanyama - Field Officer. There are also volunteer staff: Brenda Ayebazibwe - Community Development; Patrick Kakooza - Community Mobilizer; and Jane Rose Omusugu - Orphans and Vulnerable Children. They are a committed staff who have sincere hearts for their community and their country.
Discovering a person’s HIV status, is highly encouraged, but also may be very difficult to deal with as one could be shunned from both family and friends if the tests proved HIV positive. When relationship is everything, being shunned is devastating. CHAP has helped the community to learn that knowing your status is being responsible and that everyone should take it very seriously. Being diagnosed early gives one a better chance of living a generally normal, healthier, safer life.
CHAP informs, encourages and teaches the community about more than just issues regarding HIV/AIDS; they also teach about a healthier holistic lifestyle. Simple, yet highly effective routines are taught such as boiling unsafe water, washing hands, eating as regularly as possible, growing gardens, brushing teeth, delivering babies at a clinic and getting checkups when ill.
CHAP works within the community using the infrastructure already in place. Churches and pastors play major roles. The buildings are often used as places to educate, test for HIV and for drama presentations. Pastors are very instrumental in working hand in hand with the CHAP team to encourage safe sex and one partner relationships and to help with the transfer of information. Word of mouth is the chief means to inform these rural people.
CHAP is not exclusive but rather very inclusive to all who are willing to learn and utilize their services. If anyone, be they Christian, Catholic, Muslim, prostitute, single mother or father or grandparent comes and asks for help, CHAP will not turn them away. As CHAP continues to move within the communities they are readily accepted and are a well respected team. They are a great example of ‘relationships that build community’!
CrossRoads Church has every reason to be very pleased with this young, successful organization. CHAP is funded through the Global Compassion Campaign (GCC) of CrossRoads Church and they are accountable to the GCC with reports. There are success stories showing vast differences between the observations of our team in 2010 and results that we reported from this year’s team. In 2010, we saw a ‘DAYCARE’, a group of people who meet weekly who were HIV positive, people who were trying to encourage each other and continue to move forward. This year, we witnessed that same group of people making a difference in themselves and in the community inspite of their HIV positive diagnosis. They collect and share what little money they can scrape together to lend out to help those in need; they teach their community how to live a successful life even though one is HIV positive as they domonstrate it themselves. I was excited to witness the vast difference in attitude, encouragement and willingness to step out and make a difference in the area. CHAP played a vital role in this change and growth within the people.
CHAP focuses on HIV/AIDS testing, educating the community, identifying desperate family situations, identifying children in distressed situations and working diligently to make things better in these areas. CHAP also realizes that they cannot - nor do they have the resources to - just solve each issue. Rather they look to the bigger picture of teaching others to help themselves and hopefully others. The holistic education is very necessary and will continue to help this community and others like it learn, grow and become healthier.
It has been amazing to watch how God has been using this program to impact people for Him and I feel blessed to be a part of it. Please continue to pray for Buikwe, for IN Uganda and for CHAP and the work that they do. Prayers encourage others and show our support in many ways!
Relationships that Build Community!
www.CHAPuganda.com
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