First AT4SH Network Meeting in Ghent
On March 8, 2025, we held our first Community Network Meeting in Ghent. Various representatives from key organizations and individual volunteers attended the meeting. Among others, representatives came from Edo Association, Bilenge vzw, Acasia, Muungano vzw, and the Sudanese community. Several individual volunteers were also present.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to connect, exchange experiences, and give and receive feedback on ongoing processes related to activity planning, reporting, and contracts with Sensoa. We presented the highlights of the 2024 report, which network members reviewed and gave feedback on. Special attention was paid to the distribution of STI/HIV prevention materials—such as condoms and informational materials (brochures, flyers, posters)—as well as the organization of information sessions, trainings, and workshops.
The results clearly showed that our joint efforts, together with African communities, are already making a difference: attitudes toward sexual health promotion within communities are shifting, condom use is gradually becoming normalized, and HIV-related stigma and discrimination are increasingly being addressed openly.
“Discrimination within African communities themselves must also stop.”
Ddungu Charles
A key message during the meeting was the urgent need to combat all forms of discrimination. This includes not only discrimination against people with a migration background but also discrimination within migrant communities themselves. HIV-related stigma and discrimination, as well as homophobia and transphobia toward sexual minorities, were highlighted as pressing issues that African communities must actively address.
During the meeting, Nico Bogaerts, the new director of Sensoa, and Jelena van Nuffel, who has replaced Alexandra, were introduced to the network. Nico took the opportunity to meet with representatives of the AT4SH Community Network and listen to their vision for sexual health promotion and STI/HIV prevention. He also shared Sensoa’s vision for sexual health in Flanders and Brussels, highlighting the organization’s recent achievements and the areas where further growth is needed.
