Volunteering abroad in HIV/AIDS projects requires no experience, just a medical exam to ensure you are in physical good health and a self-check to ensure your heart and mind are prepared to contribute to the reduction of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Understanding the language of the country you are volunteering in is always a plus; by communicating with those infected in their native language, you will be able to better connect with them one on one and more effectively educate and counsel them. You may even have the opportunity to work with children infected with AIDS, and help them learn to accept and manage the disease. Many of individuals infected with HIV have not been treated with kindness or dignity, therefore your sheer presence as a volunteer will show them (maybe for the first time) that people care about their well-being and their future.
Those who decide to volunteer in AIDS projects abroad seek to extinguish the variety of issues that revolve around reducing HIV/AIDS transmission worldwide. To do this, you can volunteer to teach communities about relevant know-how when it comes to safe sex practices and drug-use prevention. This is a very satisfying way to contribute to AIDS reduction, as volunteers will sometimes be able to witness communities putting lessons into practice quickly.
Additionally, some AIDS volunteer work abroad involved discussing big-picture ideas related to AIDS, such as gender equality, LGBT issues, and discriminating laws. These discussions are often complex, since long-standing issues are often tangled in with a historical and cultural roots. Though you may not see the fruits of your labor during short-term AIDS volunteer work, trust that the seeds have been planted and will eventually make way for stronger, healthier communities.
Volunteers may also be tasked with assisting those who are already infected and providing support to their families. This is no easy feat and requires a great deal of love, patience, and kindness. In this realm, AIDS volunteers may administer medicine, discuss safe-sex and health best practices, and support individuals with reintegrating into society.