Tanzania (WVI)--World Vision and the European Union (EU) will implement a program to fight spread of HIV/AIDS jointly with Chama cha Uzazi na Malezi Bora Tanzania (UMATI), the Center for Education in Health Devlopment (CEDHA), and the Institute of Public Health (IPH).

This program will be targeted for 2.6 million youth, especially vulnerable girls, orphans, and children in school, in Tanzania between the ages of 10-24. More than 2000 orphaned girls will receive vocational training which will guide to change their sexual behavior through Behavior Change Communication Information (BCCI).

Training on HIV/AIDS will also be provided to the community leaders of youth such as schoolteachers, church leaders, village health workers, and youth peer educators.

This program will improve the capacity of community-based structures to address the needs of protection of orphans and other vulnerable youth from HIV/AIDS by presenting the needs and legal rights of youth along with prevention and mitigation of HIV/AIDS.

More than two million people have been infected with HIV in Tanzania since the first reported case in 1983, and over 810,000 children below 15 years of age have lost one parent or both due to HIV/AIDS. Throughout Africa there are many children caretakers who look after their own AIDS infected parents and family members.

World Vision is a Christian organization existing to help families and their children realize their hopes and dreams, especially during the most difficult times of their lives. They implement many relief programs in response to crises worldwide. Driven by faith, World Vision staff members seek to represent Jesus Christ in its work and help people to realize their God-given potential.

Currently WV has 11,200 men and women working in 88 countries to serve 1.3 million children supported by more than a million worldwide donors.