SWAA supports Women Living with HIV/AIDS by equipping them with training in some income-generating activities and providing them with seed money. In 2002, SWAA supported Women United Against AIDS in Ghana (WUAAG), an HIV positive group to produce beads for sale. SWAA has also supported Save Lives, a group formed under SWAA /HACI project to produce mushroom for sale. This group revolves their funds in a the manner of a co-operative and members are able to access loans to engage in private businesses. The AIDS Support Association (TASA), another group of HIV/AIDS positive people based in Tema also received funds from SWAA to produce tie and dye materials for sale. The Hope HIV/AIDS support Group in Elmina have also been supported to cultivate mushroom for sale. In 2007, SWAA with assistance from African Women Development Fund (AWDF) was able to train members of FOWAC (an HIV support group) in soap making; after which they were given seed money to enable sustainability and continuity of the project. In all, over 130 women have received such funds from SWAA Ghana. The aim of SWAA in all these activities is to help women living with HIV/AIDS to earn a living, which will enable them support their households as well as access health services.
Preparation for Transition – Memory Box Keeping
SWAA Ghana received funding from HACI Ghana to prepare 100 women for transition/memory box keeping. The main goal of this project was to help families for transition and to empower households to develop coping mechanism and strategies in the face of the harsh impact of HIV/AIDS.
The project was fashion in-line with the success stories of NACWOLA in Uganda and other bodies in Kenya and Tanzania. Women who are living with HIV/AIDS were selected as the main target group of the project.
The strategies used for this programme are participatory approach and the use of non-formal educational techniques integrating film shows and discussions in local dialects of the area or common language associated with participants as well as role-plays.
What participants had to say about the Project
“The memory box would assist me tell my child what dreams were and hopefully she would fulfill them for me if am not around” – Naaki a participant
“The properties I have may not be a waste after all; I can now keep them safe for my little ones” – Elizabeth
“Prior to this I thought properties referred to things like building and cars; now I have learnt to put value on the little things I have” - Joyce
“Please do similar projects for my family especially my fathers children because they do not want to share cups and cutlery with me.” - Dora
