Silver Spring, Maryland-The Cambodian office of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been awarded a grant of $125,000 from Community REACH (Rapid and Effective Action Combating HIV/AIDS) to reduce the stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Sampoy Meas District of Cambodia.

"Many problems come from the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV/AIDS. For instance, children of people living with HIV/AIDS are facing discrimination at school and AIDS orphans are rejected and abandoned," said Frank Reimann, country director for ADRA Cambodia. "ADRA recognizes that reducing stigma and discrimination is a crucial component to maximizing HIV/AIDS prevention strategies, and to promoting an accepting environment," Reimann continued.

During the two-year project ADRA and its local partners will empower and mobilize stakeholders, such as training Buddhist leaders, local authorities and people living with HIV/AIDS to help reduce internal and external stigma and discrimination and facilitate widespread and enduring changes in social attitudes.

As a part of the project ADRA will hold eight major HIV/AIDS awareness events that utilize local radio, print, and television to raise awareness, train people living with HIV/AIDS to raise awareness in their villages, encourage voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS, and implement support groups for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Providing individual and community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age or ethnicity, ADRA is present in more than 120 countries.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org