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Institution

Type of organisation

Non-governamental organization

Year of foundation

21 December 2009

Institutional presentation

Vision With the basic idea that man is valuable, we want to help women and girls, regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, religious conviction and social background, to a better life. Mission To guide, empower and coach women and girls who cannot function properly because of psycho-social and social problems and help them understand their problems so that they can come to a satisfying and meaningful life. The main objective of the organization is to provide counseling and shelter to women with psycho- social problems. The main target groups are sex workers and women with a drugs addiction. The secondary target groups are women experiencing domestic and sexual violence, women who have problems in raising children and women infected or affected by HIV. Primarily the target population is women and girls. After years of working in this field through our outreach and prevention activities the target population broadens to men, boys and also homeless peoples.

Direct beneficiaries

• Drug users
• HIV/AIDS
• Specific drug users – Sex workers, Pregnant teens, Institutionalized persons (prisoners), School-age at risk youth, Out of school youths...

Target population activities

• School (capacity building / training) teachers

Objective of the centre/ services

The main objective of the organization is to provide counseling and shelter to women with psycho- social problems. The main target groups are sex workers and women with a drugs addiction. The secondary target groups are women experiencing domestic and sexual violence, women who have problems in raising children and women infected or affected by HIV.

National coverage

Primarily the target population is women and girls. After years of working in this field through our outreach and prevention activities the target population broadens to men, boys and also homeless peoples. We are providing services in the capital Paramaribo and the districts Nickerie, Saramacca, Brokopondo and Marowijne

Intervention framework

Intervention types

• Prevention
• Treatment
• Risk reduction
• Harm reduction

Intervention framework for Prevention

• School/primary education
• School/secondary education
• Community
• Public events

Intervention framework for Treatment

• Outpatient/diurnal/outpatients clinic
• Support groups

Intervention framework for Risk reduction

• Substance testing
• Condom distribution or information on HIV or STDs
• Street approach programs
• Public health intervention (provision of HIV screening or basic health intervention eg for diabetics)

Intervention framework for Harm reduction

• Psychotherapy for harm reduction
• Street approach programs (brigades, peer work, extramural health education)
• Basic assistance services (showers, food, laundry, etc.)

Activities

• Health education
• Training
• Distribution of material
• Awareness
• Field work / Practicum placement
• Low threshold drop in centre

Description of the main activities

The program provides non-judgmental, non-forced provisions and services to the target group and their families to help them reduce drug-related harm. Furthermore, this program also offers a package of interventions as: basic need medical care material need psychological care substance use We start from a holistic approach and work throughout the program with various methodologies including the Bio-Psycho-Social model. In our service provision we take into account that the target group hears the message best if the information is as neutral and objective as possible, the care provider has sufficient credibility with the target group and access to information is low-threshold. In addition to objective and correct information, conversations give users the opportunity to reflect on their own use, pro and contras, meaning and frequency of substance use. All clients involved in the program are taught how they can make decisions based on weighing up the pros and cons of a particular behavior.