Alice Rowan Swanson Fellow implements workshops for youth living with HIV

November 14th, 2024   |   Alumni, Fellowships, IHP, SIT Study Abroad

By Joanna Tanger

School for International Training has named Marco Barracchia, a 2022 alumnus of SIT’s IHP Health and Community: Globalization, Culture, and Care program, as the newest Alice Rowan Swanson Fellow.

For his fellowship, Barracchia will implement the project “Empowering Transitions: AI-Driven Career Workshops for Youth Living with HIV in Rajasthan’s Orphanages.” In Rajasthan, India, HIV care homes play a crucial role in providing essential support to children living with HIV and those who have lost their parents to HIV. But the support from these safe spaces ends when they turn 18.

“In Rajasthan, HIV stigma continues to pervade both family and community life, leading many individuals to conceal their status due to the fear of social ostracization. Without structured support networks, they are thrown into a society that offers little acceptance or resources for people living with HIV, making it incredibly difficult to access education, employment, or healthcare. Thankfully, there are organizations like Positive YUVA Network working for change,” said Barracchia, who graduated from Colorado College in 2022 with a BA in anthropology and a minor in global health.

Barracchia first connected with Positive YUVA Network at the Young Leaders Programme at the IAS Conference on HIV Science. Partnering with HIV care homes, Positive YUVA Network has made incredible progress in reducing stigma and empowering more than 1,000 children and adolescents living with HIV in orphanages, particularly through health initiatives such as hygiene kit distribution and counseling. Yet there is still a gap when it comes to employment training for youth once they leave the care homes due to a lack of resources. Barracchia’s community-centered project aims to enhance Positive YUVA Network’s current progress.

“I am extremely honored to receive the Alice Rowan Swanson Fellowship, which provides a unique opportunity to continue my work in sexual and reproductive health rights through economic empowerment and career training,” said Barracchia. “As a recipient, I am committed to strengthening my ‘people-first’ approach, rooted in my research, advocacy, and personal journey in HIV policymaking. This program aligns with my vision of community-centered change, and I am confident that through it, I can contribute to reducing HIV stigma, designing evidence-informed policies, and fostering public health equity over the long term.

The project, taking place from March through June 2025, will feature a series of five-day workshops on AI-powered career development in four HIV care homes. The workshops aim to provide 90 adolescents aged 14-18 with critical life and career-building skills. By focusing on job readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship training, Barracchia believes the workshops will help individuals transition confidently into adulthood. Once the project ends, Positive YUVA Network will provide follow-up support, ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability.

Currently, Barracchia is an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Recipient pursuing a master’s degree in Spain and the Netherlands, specializing in Leadership and Governance of Public Health. He would like to work in intergovernmental policymaking that focuses on designing evidence-informed policies and reducing health inequities.

“Marco's extensive research experience across five continents and 12 countries, specifically on HIV stigma, community-level prevention strategies, and healthcare disparities, underscores his commitment to comprehending intersecting health disparities and addressing complex socio-cultural dynamics influencing HIV prevention and healthcare access, said SIT India Academic Director Dr. Abid Siraj. “I am sure his passion and drive for advancing human rights for vulnerable groups will contribute greatly to the Rajasthan community.

The Alice Rowan Swanson Fellowship was established in 2009 by the family of SIT Nicaragua 2006 alumna Alice Rowan Swanson as a living tribute to her life, her passion for bridging cultures and helping others, and the role that SIT Study Abroad played in her life. A 2007 Amherst College graduate, Alice was killed while riding her bike to work in 2008.

The fellowships are awarded twice annually to SIT Study Abroad and International Honors Program alumni to return to their program country and pursue further development projects benefiting human rights in that region.