In 2001, Helen Allen, our chair and founder, was studying for a degree in Nursing at the University of Nottingham. She had the chance to undertake an elective placement abroad and she felt the time was right to return to place where she was born - Zambia.

During this time she was attached to a small HIV/AIDS prevention organisation working with a new approach known as ‘peer education’. Helen was so inspired by what she saw that she came back to the UK and started raising money to support the work going on in Zambia.

Having learnt so much by her experiences, Helen decided to open up the opportunity to other student nurses at the University of Nottingham to visit the project as part of their elective placement. Since then, we have had numerous student visitors from a wide range of disciplines and an even wider range of universities.

However, the scheme is not limited to those who are at university or in the health professions. Anyone is welcome to apply for the scheme.

“Kulyaaba” means “volunteer” in the local Tonga language. Kulyaaba placements with SAPEP afford an excellent insight into the social, cultural, economic and political pressures influencing the spread of HIV.