This post is based on the presentation that Asia Catalyst scholarship recipient Zhao Gang from Kang Xin Home, a drug user NGO based in Yunnan, China, gave at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna this July. Kang Xin Home (pronounced Kang Shin) aims to bring together Chinese people living with HIV (PLHIV), injecting drug users (IDU), and methadone treatment personnel in order to promote HIV/AIDS prevention, self-help and mutual support. Kang Xin aims to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on their community, improve the quality of life for drug users and PLHIV, and promote social equality.
The Situation of drug users
There are several main problems that drug users face in their daily life which impact their ability to build an organization. Long-term drug abuse leads to low self esteem. Drug users in our area lack stable employment and therefore a secure livelihood. They are marginalized and lack support and trust from the community they live in. The resulting instability makes it difficult for them to integrate into society. Grassroots nongovernmental organizations (NGO) can benefit drug users and give them hope through both the services they provide and the opportunity to get active. However, organizing drug users faces some distinct challenges that I would like to discuss here. This discussion is part of a process to actively find solutions and to build sustainable organizations by and for drug users in China.
Difficulties we face
Lack of stable financial support for Chinese NGOs is a major barrier to running an organization in China. Problems with registering an independent NGO cause major difficulties with fundraising activities. The environment in China is still not very supportive of independent NGOs. Since funding is hard to secure, NGOs in many cases have difficulties paying stable salaries to their staff. For drug user organizations discrimination is another concern, since drug use is criminalized in China and association with a drug user organization can make staff and members subject to discrimination by society, but also by police who can who can take drug users in for urine tests anytime.
Some solutions
There are some ways to tackle these problems. Don't wait for others to do it first, nothing will get done if everybody always waits for others. Though you may dream big, start small and make sure you can support basic subsistence. Communicate with others and explain the facts to gain their support. Position the organization carefully and seize any opportunity for registration. It is also very important that staff understand the organization's situation. Communicate openly with your staff and work as a team to build strong resources. It is possible that with outreach and successful policy advocacy, discrimination issues can be resolved in your area.
Remaining long-term problems
Generally, drug user organization in China have a low level of education and lack professional capacity. This results in poor management and there is a lack of effective NGO management models available in China. Financial management practices can be unfair or unsafe, another large barrier to running a successful organization. For these and many other reasons, mutual trust within the drug user community can also be very low. Unstable salaries can result in high personnel turnover which again results in high work load for the remaining staff.
How can we solve existing problems?
Solving these problems will not happen overnight. One important step is to build the self-confidence of drug users to participate in drug user organizations. We can improve overall capacity of NGOs and staff through training, help them improve management mechanisms and foster a sense of responsibility. Financial management needs to be professionalized. Trust and communication within the organization and the community need to be strengthened. Training should also be given to junior staff so they develop the capacity to manage program activities. For salaries and benefits a rewards system based on performance could be established.
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