Institute of International Social Development

Started in 1998. Presently ongoing

Objective:

PROJECT HOPE was inaugurated by the renowned actress of India Ms. Moon Moon Sen. The program is run according to the sixth MDG "Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria & other Diseases".

Description:

Project HOPE started as 2-month long AIDS & HIV Positive Prevention Campaign at the red-light area of Sonagachi in Kolkata. Today the project consists of awareness raising, education, counseling and condom distribution amongst the sexworkers and is aimed at bringing primary healthcare facilities, functional literacy and awareness on social issues to this population. The project has effect on a population of at least 40,000 sex-workers and their families.

Achievements:

Distribution of more than 100,000 condoms amongst the sex-workerssince 1998.
More than 30 awareness campaigns between September 1998 and April 2003 were conducted.
Project HOPE II included routine health check-ups for around 100 women and children, and food packet distribution.
Establishment of a permanent free clinic at Sonagachi from 1999 has been done.
Research of types of diseases common to the locality with the record of suspected STD/HIV and AIDS cases from 1999 has been done.
Initiation of a functional literacy program for the sex-workers from 1999 has been conducted.
Initiation of a crèche-cum-primary education center for children of the sexworkers in 1999 has been done.
Training in income-generating skills for alternative careers since 1999 has been conducted.
Weekly Homeopathy Medical Clinic established in 2001. Kamasutra based training piloted.
Regular seminars were conducted at different vulnerable places targeting the most risk-prone groups of people.