LAPWhat's the LAP?

LIFE AIDS PROJECT(LAP)

PHOTO SHIMIZU
LAP Representative
Shigenori Shimizu

What our aims are

LAP(Life Aids Project) began with people thinking about the "lives" that we, as PHA(People With HIV/AIDS) or HIV-negatives, have lived through together.

LAP is an NGO group that aims to construct mutually supportive relationships and care . We think these relationships and care should naturally promote self-confidence and vigor, and the understanding that we need each other. We do not think of this as some sort of "almsgiving", or an order that must be excuted.

The word "life" refers to our whole lives, and our daily lives. HIV poses the serious question about how we should live our lives. We think one answer to that question is to make our lives more enriched. And we also think we can find that answer in each experience that we get in our mutual supportive relationships and care.

LAP's activities are supported by the following concepts.

a) Target "after being tested positive".

 We place supportive efforts and care for HIV-positive first, not actions for "social defense", like teaching people how to avoid getting HIV.

b) PHA have initiative.

 It doesn't matter how a person has been infected by HIV; a person's humanity should be respected, not "morals".

c) Provide services that match the needs.

 We provide supportive services and care, that correspond to what PHA want.u

d) Be practical.

 We don't deny the importance of some efforts like making scrap books, but we give priority to practical efforts, like actual supportive efforts or care for PHA.

e) Not to be too serious.

 We make our works enjoyable for each member of our group, both PHA and HIV-negative. To prevent "burn-out", we think this is a crucial point.

Our Actions

With the group-identity and concepts mentioned above, we have set three targets for action as follows.

  1. mutual care made up of both PHAs and HIV-negatives

    2. This means mutual supportive efforts and care are carried out by all our members, both PHAs and HIV-negatives. We call it "Magic Pocket", from the popular Japanese comic "Doraemon".

    1. Case management


      2. We manage a buddy program for each PHA. Buddies provide any service that PHA need in daily life, and help PHA to connect his or her needs with social resources.

    2. Peer group


      3. The word "peer" means someone of equal standing with another, or companion. Peer groups are small groups where each member, both PHA and HIV-negative, support each other. To meet PHAs' needs, peer groups can take on various forms.

    3. Counseling efforts

      4. We provide peer counseling programs and hotline services.

      *Peer counseling is based on the idea that both clients and counselors stand on equal gound.
      *The Hotline is a telephone counseling service by our staff, who have been trained in a special program.

  2. Training Program

    3. To refreshen ourselves, and to help other organizations, we manage a number of different training programs, including the following.

    1. Training for ourselves

      2. 1. Basic training
      2. Special training for hotline staff
      3. Training for peer counseling
      4. Training for coordinators
      5. Training for group facilitators
      6. Others

    2. Outreach program

      3. 1. For schoolchildren and college students
      2. For local communities
      3. Others

    3. Training service for the workplaceX

      4. See next section.

  3. Supportive program for the workplace

    4. We provide supportive programs for PHA at work, and the workplace, especially where AIDS programs can't be started independently.

    1. Supportive programs for employees

    2. Supportive program for workplace

    3. Supportive program for other volunteer groups

  4. Managing Section

    5. Follows are managing sections of our group.

    1. Managing section

    2. Financing section

      3. 1. Fundraising
      2. Donation
      3. Financial management
      4. Others

    3. Public relation section

      4. 1. PR for other supportive group
      2. PR for PHA
      3. PR for HIV-negative
      4. Releasing newsletter

    4. "Burn-out" control

      5. In many supportive group like us, "burn-out" syndrome is one of real problems. To avoid that situation, we manage various effort. Our key-word is: If you feel it heavy, take care yourself!

P.O.Box 490,Chuo Yubin Kyoku,Tokyo,JAPAN 100-91
PHONE 81-3-5685-9644 FAX 81-3-5685-9703
INTERNET ADDRESS:lap@sag.bekkoame.or.jp(SUB)
lap@lapjp.org(MAIN)
JAPANESE