Objective: To support HIV/AIDS interventions undertaken by community-based institutions working to break down the barriers to accessing treatment and prevention and implement effective programming at the local level.

Commitment: AJWS will support 58 community-based organizations with small grants to carry out integrated HIV prevention, care, treatment, anti-stigma efforts at the grassroots level, and facilitate exchanges between activists and field-based organizers to share best practices on HIV interventions and advocacy strategies. Opportunities will be made available for grassroots activists, especially people living with AIDS, to participate in international meetings with donors and implementing organizations to ensure that they play a lead a role in shaping policies governing international AIDS interventions.

Background: Many grassroots organizations run by people living with AIDS carry out comprehensive prevention education and peer education programs in schools, community meetings and workplaces. They provide pre- and post-test counseling, and several offer affordable and reliable testing. They offer support programs for people living with HIV/AIDS, encouraging them to disclose their status and preparing them to take leadership roles educating others on the realities of living with the disease and preventing new infections. They promote AIDS activism and advocacy, initiate income generation and food security programs for the AIDS orphans in their communities, and collaborate with traditional healers and community leaders to adapt customs and pursue appropriate and safe practices. They do this with little international donor support, despite the increased flow of funds for HIV/AIDS from the international community.

Partnership Opportunity: Seeking additional funding to support their commitment

Update:
December 2005:
Women AIDS activists from seven AJWS-grantees across Africa met for 5 days before The International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa in Abuja, Nigeria. During this Grassroots Women’s Academy participants shared with each other their strategies for providing home-based care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children; and organizing their communities to respond to HIV/AIDS and promote our own development.

January 2006:
AJWS disbursed $249,680 to grassroots HIV/AIDS prevention, care, support and advocacy organizations in Senegal, South Africa , Zambia, Namibia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, India, Thailand, the Dominican Republic and Peru. AJWS renewed its support to Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) to continue and extend the dissemination of the women’s ARV treatment literacy toolkit that was developed with support from AJWS and ActionAid.

March 2006:
An additional $250,000 will be committed to grassroots HIV/AIDS prevention, care, support and advocacy organizations in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, El Salvador, and Cambodia.