 Contact Information
Georgie Kennedy
75-240 Nani Kailua Dr. #5
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
Phone: (808) 331-8177
E-mail: georgie@hihaf.org |
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Agency Mission Statement:
The Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting those affected by HIV/AIDS to maximize their quality of life, and to ending the spread of HIV. We also utilize the lessons learned in the HIV epidemic to care and advocate for others in the fight against related diseases. Our vision is to build a healthier, stronger, and more sustainable community that supports all its members with a focus on HIV issues.
Funded Program:
HIV Prevention Program for Teens age 13-19 in Hawaii County: The intent of this program is to increase the knowledge level of our youth on disease promotion and prevention. To empower them to practice healthy lifestyles. To be able to transmit this information to their peers so that the teen community as a whole will be healthier and safer.
Client Outcome Story: We have an on going program called SISTA, Sisters Informing Sisters to Prevent AIDS. During one of our group sessions a young girl shared that she knew nothing about how one gets a disease and was shocked to hear that her friends didn't know either. During the course of the training she learned that there are several levels of risk, i.e., from getting herpes from kissing to getting HIV from unprotected sexual activity. She was really impacted by what she learned and has volunteered for the past few years to be a youth speaker at some of our programs. Nothing is more powerful than a peer educating a peer. She has young men and women talk to her as she is seen as an "expert" and she has referred many young men and women to us for help in understanding their level of risky behavior and allowing us to help them understanding what they can do to protect themselves and others.
