The TRIAD Trust works with established community-based groups in areas hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. We work in three phases.

Phase One: Assessment

After we establish contact with an organization that has expressed the desire to train local young adults to run sustainable youth activities and HIV/AIDS education programs, an advance team-usually comprised of at least one physician and a program director-travels to meet with the community leaders. Once on the ground, we take time to learn about the specific needs of the organization: the number of children affected, the types of programs they want to develop, the skill level of interested coaches and trainers, the financial resources of the group, the particular customs and local values of the community. All of these elements are then carefully considered as our staff tailors a training program.

Phase Two: Program Implementation

This is the fun stuff-the chance for kids, coaches and trainers, and our expert volunteers to work together, play together, live together. Whether it is instructing local musicians how to teach kids to express their hopes and fears by writing and performing original songs, encouraging local actors to open up children's imaginations with improv comedy, working with area newspaper reporters to raise a new generation of budding journalists, or building young coaches into masters of the game, every day of our clinics is packed with exciting activities and thoughtful exercises. For two weeks, some of the world's best and brightest talent prepares the next generation of leaders. These new leaders will inspire children much of the world has already counted out. We believe there is talent in these places because we have seen it.

Phase Three: Sustainability

This is where so many other well-intentioned HIV/AIDS education initiatives have failed. Once the frenzied excitement of passionate visitors dies down, too many children's programs falter. We don't merely run camps and clinics for children. By training local leaders to run these youth programs, we're doing several things. First, we're using the most important resource there is: people from the community. Nobody outside can possibly know or care about a community more than people from that place. We've learned that local leaders, when empowered with skills, want to stay to help. However all too often, once given a set of skills, too many local leaders then leave for larger communities in search of a job. That's the second part of why our sustainability protocol is unique. We work to pay a fair salary to these newly-minted coaches and trainers to stay in their hometowns. The TRIAD Trust aims to pay every coach and trainer we prepare, a competitive, living wage. Nothing is more valuable than helping the most vulnerable children. In addition to training and paying hometown heroes, we continue to provide as much material support-sporting gear and uniforms, musical instruments and equipment for performing arts, media equipment-as possible. By working with partners here in the United States and Europe-adidas, the US Women's National Soccer Team, the NBA Basketball without Borders program, major teaching hospitals, and several major media companies-our partners in developing nations can continue to help arm children with the most powerful weapon in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS: information.