Member Associations

Association HERA XXI was registered as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in 1997 and joined IPPF as an Associate Member in 2000. The organization has associated clinics across the country, focusing on some of the poorest regions (including Samtskhe-Javakheti and Adjara) where the need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services is most acute.   The Member Association has a strong youth focus, running peer educator programmes, involving young people at a high level in the organization’s structure. Young people are encouraged to devise, develop, implement and deliver their own projects. The need for change in gender attitudes amongst men is substantial and male peer educators receive additional training in this area. HERA XXI runs a counselling centre on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, and it has undertaken a range of highly focused HIV and AIDS projects for migrant workers, particularly during the construction of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline (running from the Caspian coast in Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean coast in Turkey). These projects involved intensive information, education and communication (IEC) activities with local medical professionals, local communities, sex workers and site workers.   HERA XXI fights against unsafe abortion. The Member Association trains health professionals coming from different regions in Georgia on safe abortion. Its intensive advocacy has resulted in a partnership with the Ministry of Health against unsafe abortion.   Contacts Website: www.hera-youth.ge/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AssociationHeraXXI

For over 30 years, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAE) has provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the people of Eswatini (formally Swaziland). While family planning, antenatal, post-natal and post-abortion care form a key part of FLAE’s services, there’s a significant focus on HIV and AIDS programmes. Swaziland has some of the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rates in the world. As a result, the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, the provision of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), and the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) are central to FLAE’s work. FLAE has 15 service points, including 4 permanent clinics and 12 mobile facilities, staffed by a permanent team of 40 backed by 230 volunteers, 180 Youth Action Movement members and 29 peer educators. Young people are a particular target for HIV and SRH sensitization. One of FLAE’s youth centres has its own radio studio, where young people make their own programmes concerning SRH issues. These are then played during FLAE’s roadshows and by major radio stations for nationwide broadcast. This is one strand in an innovative approach to communication. FLAE peer educators also provide training to the country’s Business Coalition Against AIDS. Health, youth, education, women’s and regional development ministries are key partners for FLAE, and it has links with a large number of non-governmental organizations, including the Swaziland National Youth Council, Swaziland Health and Population Education, Population Services International, the Swaziland National AIDS Programme and PACT. Private sector partnerships include the Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS and SWANNEPHA (a national network of organizations for people living with HIV and AIDS). FLAE is a member of the SRH Steering committee, the Gender Consortium and the Male Circumcision Task Force. Contacts Website: www.flas.org.sz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Family-Life-Association-of-Swaziland/139949066171476 Twitter: @FLAS79