Saving the Future 2.0

General Information

Fullname: Strengthen New Community-Based Interventions to Control HIV Infection Among Young People Who Use Drugs in Vietnam

Donor(s): French L’Initiative (formerly known as 5% Initiative) through the Expertise France

Period: 2022 - 2023

Location: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Nghe An, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh city

Implementer: Children and Youth Program

Saving the Future 2.0 builds on the success and lessons learned of phase I (Saving the Future) carried out from May 2016 to November 2019. Based on the insights achieved in phase I about the unique characteristics, problems, and needs of young drug users, Saving the Future 2.0 develops targeted interventions and clusters them into personalized intervention packages to address the specific problems and needs of different client groups.

The Saving the Future 2.0 project targets young people aged 16-24 who use drugs, mostly synthetic drugs like methamphetamine with the goal of “Improving quality and filling the gaps in HIV intervention for drug users through multidimensional and creative interventions”. This age group is a critical period when young people desire to try new things, while the human brain typically develops fully by age 25. Early drug use can cause irreversible damages, such as reduced learning ability, cognitive decline, memory loss. Early intervention not only increases the effectiveness of harm reduction for drug use and prevents addiction, but also contributes to HIV prevention and mitigates other long-term harmful health effects on young people.

In addition to HIV prevention and harm reduction intervention, Saving the Future 2.0 does not only address the immediate factors but also assesses and solves the underlying risks, such as mental health issues and adverse childhood experiences. Under the project, clients with adverse childhood experiences receive mental health interventions through Play therapy, Art therapy, Mindfulness-based activities and Healing circles. Such activities aim to help clients connect with their deep traumas, get ready to share personal stories and express emotions, and share strategies to cope with negative experiences in life.

2023 Key results

In 2023, the project reached and provided 9,308 clients with basic HIV services. 3,405 clients participated in individual counselling sessions on substance use harm reduction. All 30 clients that discovered their HIV status were supported by the project to register for ARV treatment and 165 clients were referred to medical facilities for testing/examination for STIs, PrEP, methadone. 474 clients received basic mental health counselling sessions, 210 clients were diagnosed and treated for mental health issues. The project also implemented three basic mindfulness-based courses, 48 sharing circle sessions, six intensive circle intervention sessions and nine art-based and play-based therapy sessions.