This photo was taken on a field trip to visit Association du Jour in Casablanca during a 3-day VAST Grant Training that was organized for Volunteers and their community partners. Most people in Morocco know of HIV/AIDS but they have never met anyone infected by it due to a high level of stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The highlights of this field trip are captured in this photo: putting a face to HIV/AIDS for Moroccans, Volunteers connecting community partners with leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Morocco, and eliminating stigma and discrimination of PLWHA in Morocco.
Association du Jour is the first community association of people living with AIDS (PLWA) in Morocco. It was created in 2006 as an initiative of PLWA and it aims to improve the living conditions of PLWA as well as participate in the fight against stigma and discrimination of PLWA. It is the only place in Morocco that offers psychosocial care to PLWA and their families in Morocco.