US-Russia Volunteer Initiative (USRVI)

Stories from the Field

Tiffany Burd, Lucy Hartmeister, and Erin Spencer
Republican Center on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Fight with Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude

Tiffany Burd (left), Erin Spencer (top), and
Lucy Hartmeister (right) pose with AIDS
Center’s volunteers at a press conference
to kick-off the ‘Show Them’ campaign

When Tiffany Burd, Lucy Hartmeister, and Erin Spencer arrived in Ulan-Ude, they were surprised by the strength of the collaborating network of the Republican Center on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Fight with Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Buryatia. The three worked to strengthen this network even further by increasing public knowledge and support of the work conducted by the Center and its partners. They organized a press conference, planned a “street action” awareness activity, provided public relations training to staff, and created an English version of the Center’s brochure. They also trained and evaluated youth peer-to-peer outreach leaders. In addition to assisting the Center in building its programs, the three were able to utilize the organization’s resources. Erin Spencer said, “The organization has an excellent manual for conducting peer-to-peer trainings. These training activities could be adapted for other situations.” She plans on utilizing the manual back in the United States and in her other international ventures.

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