International Development Programs

• World Learning International Development Programs aim to bridge the gap between the desire for human development and the ability to achieve that goal.
• Programs with participants from more than 140 countries work to unlock the potential of individuals, communities and institutions to take charge of their own development.

Million Aregay Gedey

A bright young student in Ethiopia, Million Aregay Gedey, felt powerless to help members of his community who struggled with or risked exposure to HIV/AIDS.

Then at age 15, Million heard about World Learning’s HIV Prevention program. The project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, trained him to become a peer group leader at his school in northern Ethiopia.

Today, Million leads 25 of his high school classmates in a weekly discussion group that covers topics such as HIV/AIDS prevention, the importance of staying in school, and life skills training.

"At first, my classmates were reluctant to join," said Million, who joined the program in 2010. "After a while, I noticed that they became very interested. Those who had earlier refused to be part of the discussion are now begging us to join."

Million lives in Adigrat, a town in northern Ethiopia that has seen a boom in construction in recent years. Construction workers have a highly mobile lifestyle and spend many months a year away from home. This creates opportunities for behaviors that put them and their partners in the communities in which they work at high risk of contracting HIV.

While Million raises awareness about HIV/AIDS among his peers, World Learning works with government agencies and businesses to strengthen their ability to offer and support local HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives. The World Learning approach focuses on both at-risk populations and the surrounding communities. The ultimate goal is to change high-risk behavior and provide comprehensive HIV prevention information to 200,000 people who live in communities near large-scale construction sites, including 33,000 construction workers and 3,000 commercial sex workers.

Since Million became a peer group leader, he said his life goals have come into sharper focus. He plans to become a physician to support his mother and thank her for the sacrifices she made to raise him. 

 "My attitude towards things has changed for the better. I have developed sound thinking and behavior," he said.

Million credits World Learning with providing him with the tools to become a role model to his classmates and mobilize his community to affect positive change.


by Michael Snyder

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