The Malawi workshop took place in Lilongwe from August 7 to 9, 2001. The aim was to build the capacity of community-based organizations, religious organizations and NGOs to make realistic, relevant and community-driven plans to fight against HIV/AIDS. Natasha Martin, principal of Naisula and Associates and co-founder of Global Strategies for HIV Prevention, emphasized in her opening remarks, that the power to change rests with communities. Without active volunteers and effective participation of local communities, the battle against HIV/AIDS could be lost. Education and training at the grassroots have the ability to generate community-based, community initiated and community-driven activities for HIV prevention and the mitigation of its impact. After the plenary sessions, participants formed 6 discussion groups in order to enable each participant to understand any issues that were not clear during the plenary presentations.
On the third day of the workshop, all of the 65 participants developed action plans intended to guide their subsequent activities. The deputy Minister of Health, the Honourable Elizabeth Lambe, recognized the importance of all areas addressed during the sessions: - AIDS in Malawi
- Youth and Prevention of HIV transmission
- Care and support for People Living with AIDS (PLWAs)
- Mother-to-child transmission of HIV
- Role of herbalists in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support
- Role of Chiefs in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support
- Role of Religious Leaders in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support
- Testimonies of PLWAs
- Introduction to Action Planning
The Honourable Elizabeth Lamba, in closing the workshop, encouraged participants to refer to the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan for Malawi 2000-2004 as the issues addressed during the workshop were in line with the nation’s plan. Thanks to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation for generous financial support to Naisula and Associates, and Global Strategies for HIV Prevention for this workshop. Natasha Martin and Caroline Karutu thank the following members of the planning committee: - Council for Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGOMA)
- United Religions Initiative - Jones Laviwa, Godwin Hlathshwayo
- Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA)
- Christian Health Association of Malawi
GAIA later took us up on our request that they assume responsibility for all the follow-up visits and funding of subsequent activities in Malawi. They agreed and have since received US$1M from the Gates Foundation, primarily to expand the home-based care program that was addressed during our workshop. Thus, the work we started in Malawi is in very good hands for sustainability. Congratulations to GAIA! | 
Malawi