Project Hope offers students an opportunity to become involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, and care. Project Hope volunteers show compassion, gain understanding, and educate others about HIV and AIDS.
People infected with HIV and those who are living with AIDS face unique problems such as discrimination, specific nutritional needs, loneliness and depression, and financial hardships due to the high cost of medical treatment and care. While HIV/AIDS is an issue facing the entire world, volunteers try to do their part by working with different organizations in the Greater Boston Area that provide essential services for those who are at risk of HIV infection or are already affected by AIDS.
In addition to service, Project Hope volunteers will help plan and implement outreach and educational activities for the BU Community. Current ideas are movie nights, visibility and outreach events on campus, and speakers who will talk about the social and political aspects of the AIDS epidemic and what it is like to live with HIV and AIDS.
Please click here to download the Project Hope Program brochure.
Project Hope Site Information
- Boomerang’s
Boomerang’s is a resale store run through the AIDS Action Committee with all of its proceeds going towards services for those living with HIV or AIDS. Volunteers help at their Brighton store by sorting, stocking and fulfilling other needs.
- Boston Living Center
The BLC is a community resource center whose mission is to foster the wellness of all HIV-positive people. Clients go to the Center for job training, meals, and sometimes even shelter. Volunteers help serve brunch and dinner.
- Children’s AIDS Program/SPARK
CAP/SPARK is a day care and afterschool program run through Boston Medical Center for children affected by HIV or AIDS. Volunteers work with this afterschool program by aiding the students with their homework, preparing snacks, and helping out wherever else they are needed.
- Community Servings
Every week Community Servings prepares and delivers 3,125 lunches and dinners to the homes of individuals and families home-bound due to AIDS and other illnesses. Their goals are to help clients maintain health and dignity, to provide nutritionally and culturally appropriate meals, preserve the integrity of the family, and let others know someone cares. Volunteers work in the kitchen preparing meals or deliver the meals with Student Food Rescue.
- MALE Center
The MALE Center is a new program run through AIDS Action that serves as a resource for gay, bisexual, and questioning men. The Center is based on the belief that there is more to HIV prevention than condom use and that there is more to wellness than the absence of disease. They will use this framework to address the root causes of unsafe sexual behavior, low self-esteem, and other risk factors for infection.
- Nutrition Works
Administered by the Boston Living Center, Nutrition Works is a food pantry and nutrition center for those infected with HIV. Volunteers help with food stocking, organizing, cleaning, and the preparation and distribution of food bags for the clients.
 |
How much of a time commitment do I make? |
 |
All of the sites require a semester-long commitment and most are 2-4 hours a day, one day per week. |
|
|
What if I can’t make a weekly commitment? |
|
No problem. Project Hope also offers a variety of one-time and monthly opportunities, such as serving a monthly dinner to various individuals affected by AIDS at the Boston Living Center. |
|
|
How do I get to site? |
|
Volunteers will travel to their sites primarily through public transportation in groups of 3-10 students. Should a site require another method of transportation, it is likely that one of our trained and certified student drivers will use a CSC passenger van to transport volunteers. |
|
|
Do I need previous experience working with individuals who are HIV positive? |
|
No, Project Hope is committed to educating both its volunteers and others about this disease and its effects on its victims and society. We also provide comprehensive orientation and training so that volunteers may better understand the issues that they address. These training sessions will occur at the beginning of each semester. |
|
|
Should I be concerned about direct contact with HIV positive people? |
|
No. HIV is only transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids. Under no circumstances will our volunteers come into contact with these fluids, regardless of the person’s HIV status. Site supervisors will handle any potentially harmful situations should they arise. |
|
|
How does Project Hope educate others about HIV and AIDS? |
|
We coordinate a variety of events and activities on and around campus. This part of the program is managed by an events committee. If you are interested in the planning of an event, please notify the Program Manager. |
|
For more information on volunteering with Project Hope, please contact:
Paola Chanes-Mora
775 Commonwealth Avenue
Fourth Floor
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-4710
Fax: 671-353-9424
Email: projhope@bu.edu
|
|
