We are delighted to announce a new partnership with the M·A·C AIDS Fund UK. They will be supporting Project Hope as we seek to transform the story of HIV in Migrant-Led churches across Ireland through the training of leaders. These churches are important and positive community supports for many people living with HIV. It is broadly acknowledged though that the experience of those living with HIV within these settings has been mixed in terms of leadership, pastoral support and health promotion.This partnership will allow us to deliver training that will change this and allow these churches to further flourish in the values of faith, hope and love that are central to their existence.

The  M·A·C AIDS Fund is the largest corporate non-pharmaceutical donor in the area of HIV. They join with Community Foundation Ireland, the PA Foundation and Dublin City Council by supporting Project Hope. If you want to keep updated on when and where this training will be taking place then click below on “Partner” with “Project Hope” in the comment and we will be in touch with more details.

Our project working to equip migrant-led churches to promote health and address HIV within their communities has received international recognition through a peerreviewed journal. Richard Carson and Philip McKinley contributed to the paper Increasing HIV Testing Among African Immigrants in Ireland: Challenges and Opportunities which appeared in this month’s edition of the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. The lead author is Prof. Adebola Adedimeji of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine New York. Staff from University College Dublin and the Mater Hospital Dublin also contributed. The paper looks at some of the barriers that exist in Irish society to addressing HIV among migrants. It highlights the importance of faith communities and the need to deliver training that engages with the theological and social framework of faith community leaders. This is precisely what Project Hope seeks to achieve.

Are you a church leader or do you know faith community leaders who would value training in how to address HIV and other health issues within their settings? If yes then please get in touch with us and SIGN UP for more information. Read the abstract and order the full paper.