Accoring to this publication, memory work is a community-led approach to encourage families to communicate openly about HIV. It is designed to help parents look at how to disclose their HIV status to their children, record important information in "memory books", and plan for the future. This manual has emerged from experience of memory work in Africa. The manual is designed to help trainers through a course to support parents, guardians, and carers affected by HIV and AIDS, by helping them to: share information, hopes, and fears with their children; strengthen each child’s sense of identity and belonging; and plan for the future care of their children.

The course consists of 12 modules. According to the publication, ideally, participants should cover all the modules, but the course has been designed to be flexible so that if there is not enough time, or participants decide as a group that they do not need particular modules, it is possible to drop some of them. Module 1, the introductory session, guides trainers and participants on how to prioritise and negotiate which modules to cover. Each module has a consistent structure, to help participants plan the session:

• Trainer’s introduction
• Trainer’s preparation
• Trainer’s guidance

The memory work approach is designed to evolve, responding to the changing needs and circumstances of communities – for example, the increasing access to antiretroviral therapy. However, the publishers say that the focus of memory work on disclosing of HIV status and improving communication between parents and children remains key in an environment where people are living longer with HIV.

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Healthlink Worldwide website on March 12 2009.