Sexual health, including HIV

Teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases affect tens of millions of children and youths because they are denied the right to protect themselves.

Plan’s awareness-raising and direct response programs help to empower children and young people so that they can realize their rights and achieve their full potential.

We directly involve children and young people in all of our work, helping them to identify problems and find solutions.

We work with partners and communities to:

• Support quality reproductive and sexual health education and services;
• Advocate for the rights of children and youths living in a world with HIV;
• Provide prevention, care and support services to those living with HIV and AIDS; and
• Challenge beliefs and attitudes that maintain unequal power relations between the sexes.

HIV focus 

Our HIV and AIDS Solutions are programs and initiatives designed to fight AIDS using proven and effective methods that include working with other non-governmental organizations, local governments, grassroots organizations and the communities themselves to fight HIV and AIDS.

One of our strongest partnerships has been with the The Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI). HACI began as a pan-African effort created to address the enormous challenges faced by millions of African children who have either been orphaned by AIDS or live with parents who are sick or dying from AIDS-related illnesses. With funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the initiative benefited individuals in five African countries. Plan continues to work with children and adults affected by HIV and AIDS.

How does your support help?

Your support of Plan's HIV and AIDS Solutions programs helps provide children, families and communities with the tools they need to fight and face HIV and AIDS:

• Information, education and communication activities to raise community awareness about HIV and AIDS;
• HIV testing and counseling;
• Assistance to people living with AIDS, including medical treatment and income-generating activities;
• Counseling for HIV positive parents and guardians;
• Support (i.e. education, food, income support and counseling) to child-headed households;
• Psychosocial support to children and families affected by HIV and AIDS;
• Care, protection and support to children affected by and orphaned by AIDS, and much more.