Our organization
Who are we, what is our goal and how is the association managed
About us
Positiva Gruppen Syd was formed in 1987, by and for people living with hiv, as a peer support group for people living with hiv. Today Positiva Gruppen Syd is an organization working for anyone living with hiv regardless of gender, sex, nationality, ethnicity or other intersectional differences – with the purpose to increase the well being and quality of life for people living with hiv.
A great deal has changed since 1987. Hiv has transformed from being a deadly disease into a chronic condition. Nowadays we say people living with hiv, which means that those of us living with hiv now need to learn to live with the virus. At the same time there is a need to bring this knowledge to the general public, and increase the understanding of what living with hiv is like.
Medically we have come along way, but there are still issues with stigma and health disparities for people living with hiv. We aim to change that for the better.
Would you like us to lecture about hiv?
Contact us! We gladly visit schools, public events and organizations to talk about hiv.
Our work
To increase the quality of lives for people living with hiv and increase the public knowledge about hiv we are working in three areas:
Social contact & meet up
Provide and encourage meetings between people living with hiv, which in turn enables knowledge exchange and peer support. Facilitate connections so people living with hiv with ease can connect to others with hiv, both offline and online.
Systematic peer support
Anyone newly diagnosed or living with hiv should have access to information about peer support at their hiv clinic. Information should be provided equally and consistently to ensure everyone is granted the opportunity to improve their health through peer support.
Information & Education
Actively increase accessibility to information about hiv, as well as promote stories about living with hiv. To provide meetings between people living with hiv and the public in order to decrease hiv stigma and and increase knowledge about hiv.
Do you want to know more about previous years work? Read more in our annual reports (Swedish only)
Our team
Joost
Project officer
Joost has studied cultural geography at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. He has been working amongst others in the public sector and cultural sector in the Netherlands before he moved to Sweden. Joost is interested to discover his new home country and also likes to cycle and walk in his spare time.
He has been living with hiv since 2013 and after he was part of Positiva Gruppen Syds board he started working in the organization in june 2022.
Emanuel
Coordinator
Emanuel holds a master degree in innovation from Lund University och has worked in the public and private sector both in Sweden and abroad with developing projects. To relax he likes to play ice hockey, lift weights and learn something new. He has been living with hiv since 2013 and was awarded the Peo Stipend in 2018.
Linda
Project manager
Linda is a trained sociologist and has previously worked in the private sector as operations manager and also transcribed the book Hivernation (2012). Linda enjoys practicing pilates, reading books and spending time with family and friends. Linda has a next of kin perspective on HIV and you can turn to her for support or requests for how we can work for you.
Conni
Project manager
Conni is a trained assistant nurse with further training in psychiatry and substance abuse. He has previously worked as a coordinator, social worker and most recently as a youth therapist in addiction, crime and mental illness.
In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, decorating and to spend time in nature. He has lived with HIV since 2015 and was awarded the Positiva Gruppen Syd´s honorary nomination in 2019 when he also took up the role of chairman.
The board
A new board is elected every year at the annual general meeting, which usually takes place end of February.
The current board consists of one chairman, three commissioners and two substitutes
Chairman: Christina
Commissioners: John, Alaa, Set
Substitutes: Sergio, Carlos
Read our charter and regulations
Positiva Gruppen Syd is a non profit association. The charter and regulations directs our work and strategic decision making.
If you would like to get in touch with the board, contact pgsstyrelse@pgsyd.se
Ethical foundation
Positiva Gruppen Syd, together with the organization Hiv-Sweden, has adopted an ethical foundation which is based on the human rights.
- The human rights covers everyone and we protect equal rights for all and the right to best possible healthcare
- We reject any discriminatory or stigmatizing acts against people living with hiv, as well as discriminatory legislation and praxis
- People living with hiv owns the absolute right to speak on matters concerning people living with hiv, and should always be meaningfully involved in issues that concerns them
As an organization we also adheres to four basic principles – Openness, percipiency, aware of norms and accessibility. Read more about what this means for us in practice in the current three year plan.