HARPAS launches its 2008 Work Plan

HARPAS launches its 2008 Work Plan, encompassing more than 100 events throughout the Arab States.

Aswan (Egypt):
HARPAS launched its 2008 Strategic Work Plan, encompassing more than 100 events throughout the Arab States.

The event took place during a workshop for the HARPAS Cairo staff, held February 11-14, 2008 in Aswan, in the south of Egypt.

The HARPAS Regional Coordinator, Dr. Khadija Moalla, stated, "The workshop focused on the importance of team participation in the HARPAS vision, as well as the importance of building the skills and capacity of HARPAS staff to meet the needs and requirements of the coming period.”

Dr. Moalla added, "We successfully drafted a work plan for our programs and activities in 2008, aimed at building the capacity of leaders active in the media and religious sectors, civil society and human rights organizations, and also Arab parliamentarians, in order to enable these leaders to overcome the challenges facing our Arab region in terms of commitment towards people living with HIV.”

Country Intensive Activities

The team developed the 2008 Work Plan with a national level focus, including intensive workshops in each country, aimed at strengthening the networks between influential leaders in various fields, community leaders, and people living with HIV.

In terms of refining teamwork skills, Senior Program Advisor Dr. Ehab Kharrat stated, “This planning workshop sought to create a cohesive and organized work team, able to take on the workload of activities and events to be implemented this year. This is especially important, given that the number of activities and events has doubled in comparison to the previous year, with now over 100 events and activities planned for the year 2008.”

Dr. Kharrat added, “We have been culling the accumulated lessons learned by the work team over the last year, identifying the points of strength, weakness, and opportunity that lie before us in the year 2008.”

HARPAS aims to develop the capacity of individuals and civil society organizations to effect social transformation towards people living with HIV, working from a vision that treats AIDS as a symptom of numerous other ills and negative issues found in their societies.

HARPAS urges everyone -- especially influential community leaders -- to show courage and transparency in breaking the silence about AIDS and in creating an enabling environment for those living with HIV.