US-Russia Volunteer Initiative (USRVI)

Stories from the Field

Tracey Frasch and Amy Holdaway
Medical Association of Chapaevsk, Chapaevsk

Tracey Frasch in Chapaevsk

Amy Holdoway is a graduate student in Public Health at George Washington University and Tracey Frasch is an experienced health educator. As USRVI volunteers, the pair were heavily involved in education and community mapping. They regularly taught college students and conducted a survey of HIV/AIDS needs and resources in the community. They also ran a week-long sexual education course for students in the 10th grade and conducted a class on reducing stigma in the workplace towards people living with HIV/AIDS. The two translated an article from English into Russian which explained the benefits of reducing risky sexual behavior, expanding the public health resources available to the community.

Amy returned to the United States with a better understanding of the global dimensions of the HIV/AIDS crisis. She said, “Until now my education was almost entirely theoretical. Now I am going home with a better understanding of why we need practical applications for behavioral change program theories and program planning. I have become more committed to finding working solutions to HIV/AIDS prevention in the Russian context.”

Amy and Tracey have not forgotten Chapaevsk even though their USRVI exchange has concluded. Their success running small-scale trainings and outreach projects convinced them that their colleagues in Chapaevsk would be able to support a larger public awareness campaign. They have therefore received USRVI alumni grant funding to organize an HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Chapaevsk, Russia. The highlight of the day will be an AIDS Run. Advertisements on the course and events after the race will educate participants about HIV/AIDS and encourage the use of prevention strategies. Local health organizations and NGOs will help organize the event, thus building local capacity for public marketing campaigns and ensuring sustainability of the effort. The doctors and health educators in Chapaevsk who worked so hard to help Amy and Tracey make their USRVI experience a success are now being empowered to run a large-scale public awareness campaign in their home community.

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