Rajo Somali Women PLHIV Association is a non-governmental and non-profit organization which is established by Women living with HIV/AIDS in 2009 with the registration No. 2580 under the Ethiopian Civil Society Agency. It is an association which is based in Somali Region, Jigjiga and run by women living with HIV.
Rajo is established by the women and girls who are living with HIV/AIDS. Rajo has a board and general assembly that manage the organization as the highest governing body. Besides, the organization is managed by a women executive director who is living with HIV through the appointment by the board. It also has 70 volunteer women who are ready to engage on any engagement of the organization. These volunteers are women living with HIV that have provided services on the care, treatment, counseling, and support for the most vulnerable and marginalized women living with HIV/AIDS which are suffering due to associated infection. The volunteers also provide awareness raising and education for the wider community members in relation to women’s vulnerability to various socio-economic impacts including FGM, GBV, etc. The volunteers are one of the pillars of the organization for the accomplishments of its projects.
Rajo has accomplished projects for the marginalized segments of the community who are basically women and girls living with HIV/AIDS. As part of Rajo’s project interventions, Harmful traditional practices are the center of the actions integrated with HIV/AIDS issues. Among the core issues of the interventions as part of Harmful practices, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the primary focus area since it is one of the pervasive concerns in Somali Region that affects numerous females and becomes one of HIV transmission methods.
Rajo works in collaboration with Somali Regional Government Bureaus, other PLHIV Associations, and international NGOs to realize its vision. Mostly, it acquires donation from Global Fund through its networks to accomplish interventions in relation to women and girls on HIV/AIDS, Harmful Practices such as FGM, HIV/AIDS treatment, care, support, ART adherence, education and awareness creation, and other women and girls related activities. Consequently, Rajo has a strong stand to combat any practice against women and girls since it is established and operated by victim women for vulnerable women and girls. ピーク ファンドリア