22nd International AIDS Conference
Amsterdam, Netherlands | 23-27 July 2018

Local Charitable Giving Programme

The Local Charitable Giving Programme financially supports a local project each year in the city that is hosting the International AIDS Conference and the IAS Conference on HIV Science.

For each conference, a request for proposal is published on the conference website to enable interested local organizations or programmes working on the frontlines of the AIDS epidemic to bid. The local office and partner(s) are also invited to suggest organizations that could be interesting in bidding.

Once the IAS selects the organization, delegates have the option to contribute to the programme through the registration process. Delegates can choose an amount to donate by ticking a box on the registration form (US$5, $15, $25 or $50). The funds collected are transferred to the organization or programme after the conference.

HIV Vereniging Nederland has been selected for the AIDS 2018 Local Charitable Giving Programme.

HIV Vereniging Nederland is an association of people living with HIV (PLHIV). It was founded in Amsterdam in 1987.

HIV Vereniging Nederland’s mission is to defend the interests of PLHIV at national policy level. HIV Vereniging Nederland is involved in the setting up of Dutch healthcare, political and legal environments for PLHIV It provides up-to-date legal and other relevant information to PLHIV and their relatives. It also offers mutual support and peer contacts for empowerment.

The donations collected during AIDS 2018 will be allocated to HIV Vereniging Nederland’s peer counselling activities. Peer counselling is an individual intervention targeted at hard-to-reach PLHIV, people who experience stigma and isolation and often huge thresholds to get in contact with other PLHIV. Peer counsellors are carefully selected and trained volunteers who listen and counsel from their own walk of life and experience of living with HIV. The matching of beneficiaries and peer counsellors is tailored to their needs and background. Peer counsellors make up the most diverse group of volunteers in the association, with different ages, backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, religions and languages.

By contributing to the AIDS 2018 Local Charitable Giving Programme, you will help HIV Vereniging Nederland bridge the gap between isolation and being part of a community for PLHIV.