The history of HIVHope International
HIVHope International was established in 1988 as the American Institute for Teen AIDS Prevention (AITAP). The original purpose was to develop HIV prevention education materials for use in the high schools and middle schools of the United States. In addition to its materials, AITAP's executive director, Duane Crumb, presented motivational assembly programs throughout the US for students in grades five through twelve, trainings for educators and parents and other adults, and spoke in churches to help congregations prepare to welcome people living with HIV.
In 2005 the name was changed to HIVHope International to reflect a major change in focus. Rather than just young people in North America, the focus is now on bringing hope into the context of HIV worldwide.
Today HIVHope works around the world empowering and equipping nationals to create their own creative tools for HIV education and ministry that motivate their countrymen to make the life-choices that keep them free of infection and encourage people and organizations to actively reach out to meet the needs of those living with HIV (including the families of the infected and the orphans they leave behind).
HIVHope International also works with churches, Christian colleges, and other groups in North America and around the world. Here the goal is to free Christians from the attitudes that are preventing effective ministry. Far too often, the greatest source of stigma against those living with HIV is the church. That is exactly the opposite of what God would want but it is true around the world and we are working to change it.
In 2005 the name was changed to HIVHope International to reflect a major change in focus. Rather than just young people in North America, the focus is now on bringing hope into the context of HIV worldwide.
Today HIVHope works around the world empowering and equipping nationals to create their own creative tools for HIV education and ministry that motivate their countrymen to make the life-choices that keep them free of infection and encourage people and organizations to actively reach out to meet the needs of those living with HIV (including the families of the infected and the orphans they leave behind).
HIVHope International also works with churches, Christian colleges, and other groups in North America and around the world. Here the goal is to free Christians from the attitudes that are preventing effective ministry. Far too often, the greatest source of stigma against those living with HIV is the church. That is exactly the opposite of what God would want but it is true around the world and we are working to change it.