Promoting Communication for Social Change
Taking Sides
DFID partners with WACC in fight against HIV/AIDS stigma Print E-mail

Beginning July 1st WACC and the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) embarked on a 3-year project supported by the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID). This is a significant accomplishment in WACC’s response to HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

The initiative emerged as a result of close consultations between WACC and CCG during a staff visit to Ghana in 2005. That visit included consultations with CCG’s partners in Ghana, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), and the Ecumenical HIV/AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA).

CCG has close working ties with religious and community leaders. Their immense power of influence and their role in effecting social change prompted the project’s objective: to establish strategic alliances with religious and community leaders to organise campaigns and actions aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in three districts close to the capital city, Accra.

The three districts were chosen because of their high levels of infection, attributed among other factors to fear of getting tested for the virus stemming from rampant stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. The project will implement an integrated, multi-sectoral, rights-based participatory communication strategy.

In Ghana, as in most African countries, many in the faith community fail to speak out, which has made the AIDS situation worse. This project will change the understanding of HIV/AIDS and enhance the communication and advocacy skills of religious leaders, community and opinion leaders, leaders of women’s groups and youth groups, teachers, health workers and media practitioners.

The project will develop and implement a range of communication strategies and tools: from theatre, music, dance, sport, competitions, community radio and TV to sermons, reflections, storytelling and testimonies. Skills acquired will enable beneficiaries to defend the rights of people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS and will contribute to the elimination of stigma and discrimination against.

One outcome will be to support efforts to mitigate the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the human suffering it causes. The project will result in establishing strong, co-ordinated networks committed to challenging stigma and discrimination and to serving as channels to disseminate lessons learnt and best practices.

WACC and CCG are privileged to partner DFID in the fight against HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

For more info, please contact WACC Programme Managers at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or the CCG’s Project Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .



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WACC promotes communication for social change. It believes that communication is a basic human right that defines people's common humanity, strengthens cultures, enables participation, creates community and challenges tyranny and oppression.

The World Association for Christian Communication is a UK Registered Charity (number 296073) and a Company registered in England and Wales (number 2082273) with its Registered Office at 71 Lambeth Walk, London SE11 6DX. It is an incorporated Charitable Organisation in Canada (number 83970 9524 RR0001) with its head office at 308 Main Street, Toronto ON, M4C 4X7.