To help women living with HIV lead a life of dignity and economic independence, a UN agency and an organization from Thailand have launched a "Women and Wealth Project (WWP)" in Cambodia, China and India.
Under this project launched by the UNDP Regional HIV and Development Program and Thailand's Population and Community Development Association (PDA), women living with HIV run small, market-savvy social enterprises, with support from the PDA, the UNDP, international agencies and the private sector.
"The beauty of this project is the economic empowerment it provides for the women (living with HIV)," said Urai, manager of the PDA.
Urai told reporters Tuesday at the 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific that the PDA provided the HIV positive women with business management training to assist them in developing business plans before establishing their specific enterprises.
As part of WWP, the Cambodian Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS of the Cambodian People Living with HIV/AIDS Network has set up a garment manufacturing business called "Modern Dress Sewing Factory" (MDSF) employing 30 HIV positive women.
In India, the Positive Women Network has established a conceptual design and printing business called "Social Light Communications" employing two HIV positive women and two men.
In China, Colorful Clouds Yunnan, a female wing of AIDS Care China has set up "Positive Candle Works", a 100 percent bees wax candle manufacturing factory employing four women.
Each business will be marketed under the common "WE" brand ( Women Empowered), with the aim to gain market access for their products and services both locally and internationally.
"This project is a demonstration that we can be economically independent if given a level playing field and a little support," said Srim Phan of MDSF.
Caitlin Wiesen, Regional HIV/AIDS Team Leader of the UNDP said about 6 million people are living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific region with women accounting for 30 percent of the total.
"In a rapidly feminizing epidemic, the socio-economic independence of women is essential -- it enables women to cope with the devastating impact of the epidemic on their family life and sources of livelihood," Wiesen said.
Source: Xinhua
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