6 NGOs, working in the area of HIV education and prevention are sharing a US$25,000 grant. The money comes from the U.S. government and it is part of the Ambassador’s HIV prevention program. The checks were signed over this morning at the YWCA and 7NEWS was there.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This morning U.S. Ambassador Robert Dieter signed over checks totaling US$25,000 to fund 6 HIV/Aids prevention projects. POWA - the Productive Organization for Women in Action received $5,600. Michelle Irving says POWA will use the money to conduct a study on HIV and Aids in Garifuna communities.
Michelle Irving, POWA
“Right now if we look statistically we see Dangriga, the Stann Creek District, being the second highest in prevalence to the Belize District so obviously just from the numbers alone we have problem, we have an issue. The main focus of our grant is to develop baseline information, do a cap study that looks at issues of stigma and discrimination in our country, in our area, which is Dangriga and also to look at people’s attitudes as it relates to behavior change and the communication that the messages that are out there – how we could change those messages.”
Care Belize will also use its grant to communicate but in this case, it will be to the disabled. Executive Director Evan Copo explains.
Evan Copo, CARE Belize
“We received a grant of $2,000 and with that grant we will be producing materials that we will be able to allow blind people and people who are deaf to access information on HIV/Aids. What has happened is that all the present national initiatives on HIV and Aids do not consider people who are deaf and people who are blind. HIV/Aids is something that does not discriminate.”
CARE Belize and POWA are two of the six projects – chosen by Ambassador Robert Dieter.
Ambassador Robert Dieter,
“I believe it is very important for a lot of these projects because they are small projects and they are not likely to be funded through normal avenues so one of the things that we look for is community based projects that are going to be effective that target a particular population or idea that’s not likely to get funding from other sources that we think will make a difference.”
The other four NGOs awarded grants are the Belize Red Cross for its “Together We Can Project”; the Equity House Belize for training sessions in Hopkins Village, the YWCA for workshops in rural villages; and the Youth Enhancement Services. The Ambassador’s HIV prevention program was started in 2002 and since then – $217,000 have been awarded.
