Income generating activity in Vientiane Province. Photo: D. Asproloupos
In Laos, we are working with the Lao Youth Union, in Sayaboury Province to increase the capacity of the government and local communities to implement programs to reduce the high HIV risk faced by young people in this province. Many young people, boys and girls from Sayaboury Province, leave their communities to try to find work in neighbouring Thailand; a country with a high prevalence of HIV.
We know mobility greatly increases HIV risk, but this is especially the case for young people who suddenly find themselves with a degree of freedom they would not have at home with their families in rural communities. However, other key factors such as limited education, skills and employment options in the areas they migrate to also increase their HIV risk.
One of our strategies is to enable young people to stay in their communities for as long as possible through income-generating activities, whilst building up their knowledge about safe sex, so they will have the capacity to protect themselves from STIs and HIV when they do leave their communities.
