Udruzenje Prevent

Association Prevent was founded in 2004. through initiative of young people: students, high school students and doctors to improve the quality of life of people, especially young people at risk and marginalized populations. Founding Assembly of the Association was held on March 30, and the Association was registered on 14th May, 2004. Since its establishment, the Association implements programs dedicated to the prevention of drug use and sexually transmitted infections in population of young people and programs aimed at vulnerable populations. In order to influence on especially sensitive adolescent population members of the association “Prevent” designed “The school for peer educators in the field of prevention of drug use”. So far it has been held over 30 training in 20 cities in the Republic of Serbia, where trained peer educators had passed their gained knowledge to their peers. Since its establishment Prevent works with vulnerable populations that are most at risk of HIV infection. Harm Reduction program for people who inject drugs, is implementing during last 10 years and includes distribution of sterile supplies, condoms, counseling, education, referral for treatment and testing. Services are provided in a mobile medical unit in the field. The last 6 years there is also drop in centre for people who inject drugs. As addition to the field work, drop in centre includes services that are not provided on field - consultation with a psychologist, social worker, physician and HIV testing. For people who have decided to come out of the addiction problem it is possible to participate in the self-support group. In this way it is unified set of services that are implemented in harm reduction program among people who inject drugs. In the last seven years, the Association Prevent conducts Harm Reduction program for sex workers. Program includes counseling, distribution of condoms, gynecological examinations in a mobile medical unit, referral to other doctors, testing for sexually transmitted infections. In the last 4 years Prevent implements screening for tuberculosis among poor, marginalized and vulnerable populations. Pompidou Group and the Council of Europe gave Prevent Prize for innovative work in drug prevention with the active involvement of young people. The prize was awarded in Strasbourg for the game “With a game towards better health”. So far, Prevent’s training for professionals have attended general practice doctors, pharmacists, social workers, police officers, magistrate judges, teachers and representatives of civil society. Prevent is publisher of books with the topic of peer education, outreach work and drug use. We are especially proud of the project "Youth are a source of energy", which has offered over 50 different activities (sports, cultural and educational content) during two years to young people in municipalities Zabalj and Titel. Young people had quality leisure time, offered alternatives and new opportunities. When it comes to research Prevent is a participant of UNICEF’s RAR research and "Research among populations most at risk to HIV" (2008, 2012 and 2013) in collaboration with the Institute of Public Health of Serbia, but also is implementing researchs independently. Starting from 2008, when members of the association were trained for voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, Prevent organizes field testing, which gave excellent results. For one day it have been tested the same number of people as in the Institute of Public Health for the whole month. We believe that special success is that we are the only civil society organization which has entered with its mobile medical unit the circle of the Institute for execution of criminal sanctions and done testing there. When it comes to making strategic documents Prevent is participant in the process of developing the Strategy on HIV infection and AIDS, Strategy for youth development and health in the Republic of Serbia, National Youth Strategy, Action Plan for Youth Policy in Vojvodina, the Local Action Plan for Youth of City Novi Sad, the curriculum for the subject Education for health through life skills, participated in the reform of the Law on Social Protection, one of the creators of document Standards in peer education. Prevent is organizer of Positive Concert (2012, 2013, 2014), World AIDS Day, AIDS Memorial Day, Valentine's Day, World Hepatitis Day, International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, World Mental Health Day, humanitarian activities, workshops, seminars, panel discussions, debates, tournaments, competitions, performances and many other public events… We are participants in the EXIT Festival and Festival of optimism (Baby Exit) since their foundation, various cultural, educational and health events: Moto Fest, Full moon party, Smart park, To be punk, Romart, Young talents, European Day of Youth Information, Kulpin Fest, Guitar Fest Ratkovo, Green Fest, The Danube night Adice, Fair of volunteerism, Selfest, Sirmium Rock Fest, Warehouse Fest, Welcome to the Naselje, Kikinda’s youth festival, Rock village festival, Hungarian Youth Bal… Prevent is accredited for the implementation the program of youth work in the NAPOR (National Association of Youth Work Practitioners), a member of the KOMS (National Youth Council Serbia), Y-peer network, Vojvodina’s HIV Network, Coalition for Harm Reduction and foreign networks IDPC, Colerration, Healthy Network, Vienna NGO, and one of founders of South-East Europe Drug policy network, and cooperates with a number of institutions and organizations in the country and abroad.