Drugs alone are not enough

August 2008: The Plan supported Stepping Stones methodology provides workshops for young people from Ecuador. Over the course of 3 months, the young people attend one session a week and learn about HIV and AIDS, relationships, gender, love and sexuality.

Raising HIV and AIDS awareness

Alexandra Villavienco attends the sessions to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.

"Most people living with HIV are housewives. And I am one of them," she says, disputing the popular belief that people infected with HIV and AIDS are either gay men or sex workers.

"The first few months were very difficult because my family abandoned me... I was sacked when they found out I was positive... it had a huge impact on my life."

She was invited by Plan to take part in a Stepping Stones workshop where she met other young people and was able to speak freely about her infection. She now works at the local hospital, counselling others infected by HIV and AIDS.

Find out more about Plan's work in Ecuador.

Learn about Plan's global work on child media and sexual health.