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SIL Widens Role to Fight HIV/AIDS
 SIL International is using its expertise in local languages and translation to play an increasing role in the global battle against HIV/AIDS.
Under a recently adopted policy, SIL will now include AIDS education when translating healthcare materials. These will more effectively bring potentially life-saving information to people in their mother tongue.
"AIDS is devastating a whole generation, impacting many thousands of villages and communities around the world," explains John Watters, SIL International's executive director. "Our organization will help bring life-saving information to them in local languages to fight the disease."
According to UNAIDS statistics, more than 60 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. Projections are that by 2020, 68 million will die prematurely from AIDS in 45 of the most affected countries. Experts agree that the answer to stopping the AIDS pandemic is not in treating the sick. The key is to inform and educate the healthy, and encourage change in human behaviour.
Recognizing this, SIL plans to work with other organizations, agencies and governments to translate HIV/AIDS-related materials into local languages. It will also offer translation training to nationals interested in creating their own materials, including non-print media.
The organization offers to help national translators or mission agencies develop AIDS materials from a Christian perspective for local churches. They, in turn, can educate their communities about AIDS, its prevention and biblical principles of Christian family life.
SIL and affiliated national organizations have already translated HIV/AIDS-related literature in Africa, South America, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Booklets about the spread and prevention of the horrific disease have been published in at least 43 different languages, spoken in 15 countries. Back to main
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