How do I join AFFIRM?
Who can be an associate?
A person (in preference to an organisation) who, regardless of age and profession:
Demonstrates a belief in HCR (Human Capacity Development for Response), the practice of participation and facilitation and the process of learning from local action and experience, and who has a commitment to action as a member of facilitation teams
Demonstrates 'learning potential' for HCR, and sharing capacity (rather than only existing expertise) combined with respect for human and spiritual sensitivity.
Shares the vision that people with HIV, who are often desperately poor, have potential to develop a multi-faceted response.
Acts, through facilitation team practice, to foster the release of latent potential in local and organisational situations that are in a 'plateau' or actual paralysis of thought and action.
Commits to actively participating with others in a facilitation team context at least twice annually, in order to renew personal commitment and shared vision.
Is prepared to respect and support faith-based responses in the context of HCR.
Who can be an affiliate?
Any person who believes in HCR, practises facilitation and is supportive of Affirm – but cannot take part in facilitation team activities twice a year for personal, work or geographical reasons.
Contact us for more information about joining AFFIRM.
AFFIRM ASSOCIATES
A father of three children
, Claire Matthew and Fiona, married to Alison, and a faith motivated facilitator
who happens to be a medical doctor, sensitised to local community strength by the
AIDS epidemic onset in
Africa in the mid 80's. At the time I was leading the development of the Chikankata Hospital
in the Mazabuka district in Zambia , and the 'home care to community change' link
was discovered , forming a foundation for hope for national response that remains
undiminished in me personally, and shared with many colleagues in all continents
. The formation of regional and national facilitation teams from 1990 to help link
local response to organisational change has been a vibrant preoccupation and intense
learning experience
Why AFFIRM?
It seems the right time to
foster a post-organisational association with people and communities and countries
and colleagues with a particular emphasis on supporting faith linked responses to
HIV- connecting expanding local community expression with organisations that should
be learning as well as acting , participating more than providing, facilitating
more than supervising , and building teams of people who are qualified by
local experience rather than just academic expertise.
I have been working with HIV and NGOs for many years, as staff member of NGOs, as co-ordinator of the UK NGO AIDS Consortium, then freelance for several years. I’ve worked in Africa, and lived in Kenya and Somaliland as well as lots of short work and family trips to many countries in Africa. As a core group member for AFFIRM, I have been working on communications, keeping in touch with associates and affiliates and trying to keep the core group in touch with each other. Recently, though I have been more involved with being a mother and grandmother than with emails, websites and computers.
Why AFFIRM?
I believe that change at community level is an essential part of responding to the challenge of HIV - and it is an extraordinary experience to be part of facilitating such change to happen. AFFIRM is both a link to many people with a similar belief in community change, and a chance to be actively involved in learning and participating in change.
David Evans was a molecular biologist in his first career spending some time working on HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. He joined Tearfund UK in 1993 as their first HIV/AIDS Advisor. He left Tearfund in 2003 to become a freelance development consultant www.david-evans-onsultancy.co.uk specialising in HIV/AIDS work, evaluation and with a specific interest in the role of the church in development. More recent involvements include a spell as the Director of the newly launched Tutu Foundation UK www.tutufoundationuk.org. David is married to Claire. They live with their three teenage children in central London. David has co-authored two books the more recent of which is Making Space For Strangers published by IVP.
Why AFFIRM?
The approach which AFFIRM has adopted in building people's capacity to respond positively to their circumstances and in accompanying them as they make those responses is the most authentic and sustainable approach I have encountered.
I’m Alison.
I’m a person who is most alive in relationship with others. My background is community development, and social sciences in relation to development issues. During the past 20 years I have been in homes and neighbourhoods in every region of the world, and in some of the poorest communities in the world. I believe that God’s image and presence is found in community as well as in persons.
Why AFFIRM?
Connection is increasingly important in the world as it is. We want to demonstrate and work from a basis of connection which is beyond organizational labels, and so we are an association of interested people. We are trying to be consistent in our practice of looking for strengths in others, and bridging strength to strength.
Gillian Paterson PhD.
I am a freelance consultant, researcher and writer. Having worked
for the British development agency Christian Aid on health and development in Sub-Saharan
Africa, my recent partners include Christian Aid, UNAIDS, WCC, EAA, the International
AIDS Society, and Norsk Misjons Bistandsnemndn. Recent publications in include
Women in the Time of AIDS (Orbis Books), AIDS Related Stigma: Thinking
Outside the Box (EAA & WCC), and Church Leadership and HIV Prevention
(EAA), plus various articles and chapters. My doctoral thesis was on AIDS related
stigma as an issue for Christian theology and ethics. I am a grandmother,
a Catholic, I live in
North London
, and in this photo I am doing what I love doing best, but hardly ever have time
for. I find that AFFIRM offers key
insights on the interface between HIV and Christian theology, and an opportunity
to relate grassroots insights to those that are coming from theological faculties
and seminaries.
I am a facilitator of facilitators.
I am not often out facilitating community processes. I prefer to be behind the scenes,
connecting and resourcing. Most of the knowledge that I use I got the Gracie Allen
way, as I had to do stuff when I didn’t know what I was doing! One of those experiences
was when I helped facilitate a re-structuring workshop for what is now the Churches
Health Association of Zambia. The key attitude of doing WITH people instead of FOR
them is an ongoing struggle for me. I just taught an elective to Salvation Army
cadets (community based pastors in training) on
Total Transformation: possibilities for Christian community development.
The heart and soul of it was a SALT visit* to Newark Urban Ministries in
New Jersey
. That’s what keeps us real.
Why AFFIRM?
There are so many forces that
work against being human, against simply relating and working in a human way. Ironically
these forces abound in the helping professions. It is more than a privilege – it
is a lifeline – to be part of AFFIRM.
*SALT: Our approach is rooted in the concepts of
‘human capacity development’, ‘local response’, ‘AIDS competence’ and ‘facilitation
teams’. We have implemented this approach through what have come to be known as
‘SALT’ teams, which practice support and stimulation, appreciation,
learning from local experience, team development and the transfer
of knowledge, vision and direction.
Read More
Answering a question about who you are is never easy. Many and varied are the things which make a person who they are. And, like a person him/herself, are constantly changing. I believe that no person or situation is ever static. They are in constant motion; affected by all contextual factors and events both within and outside of an individual's control. Within this dynamic interchange, the relationships between people are the component which keeps all things together and flowing. The relationships we have bring out our strengths and weaknesses. They can both help and hinder us.
The people and relationships that have shaped my life have demonstrated that when you believe in each other and a God of grace, all things are possible.
Why AFFIRM?
I see Affirm as an avenue for working in relationship on a mutual journey of discovering each others strengths for change.
Dusit Duangsa
I am a father
of 2 sons, and a lecturer at Chang Mai University in Thailand.
I have worked on a number of social
issues including migration, prostitution, child labour, child trafficking, community
development, participatory rural appraisal (PRA), non-formal education and vocational
training, and HIV/AIDS. I co-founded the AIDS
Education Programme (AEP) at the university, and have used it as the channel to
work closely with communities, civil society movement, and other organizations at
local and international levels. I have learned a great deal from these experiences.
I am also working with the Constellation for AIDS Competence to promote AIDS competence
and life competence, which I believe go together like two sides of the same coin.
Why AFFIRM?
To take part in this meaningful and exciting journey of life and learning.
I started to
work on HIV/AIDS in the hope of helping to make the world a safer place for my 2
sons. However, I have continued to
work on the issue during the past 15 years because I am inspired by the people and
the communities who have taught me that HIV/AIDS is actually about love, and about
life. Apart from teaching at Chiangmai
University (in Chiangmai, Thailand), I am also working on HIV/AIDS and related issues
with a number of organizations and movements, particularly the AIDS Education Programme
(AEP), the Constellation for AIDS Competence, the Positive Learning working Group
(PLWG), the Coalition for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (CCABA), the Asian Harm
Reduction Network (AHRN) and the Health and Development Network (HDN).
I still hope that --by working, learning, and sharing together--
we can make the world a safer and better place for everyone.
Why AFFIRM?
I have been intrigued and
inspired by human capacity for response and would like to continue exploring and
understanding more about the approach and its application, with other people who
believe in the approach and have more experiences.
