Thanks to all the Freddie-tastic FFAD fundraising that has been carried out during 2012, the Mercury Phoenix Trust is proud to announce that it has been able to distribute a total of over £200,000 to fund AIDS-related projects from a range of grass roots charities all over the world.

 

At the end of December our administrive team completed the analysis of the final trimester’s funding applications and collated information in order to sign off the allocation of funds for 2012, with the final decision being made by the board of trustees.

 

Below is truly inspiring information on each of the charities and projects that have received funding from the MPT in 2012. We have condensed information down as much as possible, but you can imagine the thousands of individual stories that are hidden behind each one of these paragraphs. Tens of thousands of lives that we are touching and giving hope to by helping these charities.

 

Thank you all for your dedicated fundraising during 2012. It is thanks to you that we are able to help so many families and communities around the world.

 

 

 

We have been supporting this charity annually since 2008. Working with12 partner organisations in sub Sahara Africa, they provide over 2,000 HIV/AIDS titles and related books. Projects include setting up health information hubs in public libraries and schools, community library services and mobile libraries for schools. They also have a small programme in the occupied Palestinian territories.

 

Two year Community HIV/AIDS education and awareness project targeting 3,000 children, young people and adults in this drought prone area of Kenya which has an adult HIV prevalence of 24%. Prevention is hampered by people not knowing their HIV status and, in rural villages, many struggle to find the money to pay the bus fares to reach the testing centres and to access subsequent treatment and support. This project aims to provide a culturally appropriate, accessible, effective and professional Voluntary Counselling Testing centre with subsequent treatment and support to Obambo, Kadenge and Nyandiwa sub-locations in Siaya District.

 

Further funding to continue work in 28 schools in rural areas of Machakos, Mwala and Gilgil. As well as addressing immediate health issues through their school based outreach activies, HIV/AIDS awarenss is to be raised in the schools and wider community through the establishment of health clubs and by training pupils as peer eductors to spread health -related messages. To benefit min. 11,425 pupils, teachers and parents.

 

 

UK based charity working with the Ugandan Prison Service. Prisons in Uganda are overcrowded, HIV infection rates are twice as high as in the rest of the country, education and health support virtually non existant. The obvious consequence of ignorance over health issues is as soon as prisoners are released they will infect others in the community. This prevention project targets 14,000 inmates plus 5,500 prison staff, providing health education and awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and general health issues.

 

The MPT has been supporting the mobile outreach and HIV Care Clinic of the Kiwoko Hospital in Luwero since 1999. They provide HIV and CD4 testing, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, antiretroviral therapy, and home based care for AIDS sufferers with trained staff, also giving nutritional support, orphan care and hospice care for sufferers in this inaccessible pastoral region of mainly subsistence farmers.

 

This outreach campaign is targeting the 18,900 Bambuti Pygmies living in the Ituri forest together and the neighbouring population, sensitizing them to HIV/AIDS prevention and encouraging them to have Voluntary Counselling and Testing using a mobile HIV testing unit. The Bambutis know virtually nothing about AIDS, believing that deaths are due to bush ghosts or bad spirits. Because there is a general belief amongst the neighbouring population that sleeping with a pygmy will cure backache and other illnesses there is a high incidence of rape.

 

Further funding to enable their sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS education and awareness programme to be rolled out to other islands on the Volta river. Key activities include formation and training of STIs and HIV educator groups, community mass mobilisation, school education and awareness programmes together with Voluntary Testing and Counselling. Accessible only by water, the MPT has been supporting them since 2006 when local women, neglected by the NGOs, set up their own HIV/AIDS awareness campaign travelling by boat to the various islands. They have achieved great results, to find out more please see articles on the MPT website.

 

Continuing their Mother to Child Prevention programme at the Mamenda Hospital in North West Cameroon. Their aim is to develop the current capacity of the team and secure better follow up. To provide HIV testing for pregnant women and their partners and to ensure all local HIV+ women who give birth are invited to join the programme. Offer counselling and support on nutrition and health issues relevant to being HIV+ and on infant feeding. Currently about 10 to 20% of babies contract the HIV virus through breast milk. However, if they are not breastfed they risk malnutrition. MCAI nurses advise mothers, ensure babies are seen regularly until 15-18mths old and provide a monthly transport allowance to enable people to access services. MPT has been supporting this excellent team since 2003.

 

Positivo is an arts based HIV awareness initiative in Mozambique using art and music messages created by the students in five secondary schools in Inhambane and Gaza provinces targeting youth aged between 14-19. Beginning with school workshops to attract participation and followed by concerts and then open forum discussions with local health workers. The students will work with musicians and artists to create murals and original song incorprating topics from the lessons culminating in peformances for the general public.

 

This project aims to use football based HIV prevention, life skills education and Voluntary Counselling and Testing to prevent new HIV infections in street children. The aim is to increase knowledge and communication and reduce the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS. The project focuses on building basic life skills to help children to adopt healthy behaviour. It will benefti approx 800 street childlren attending a drop-in centre in Adis Ababa for one year. The MPT funded a similar football based HIV prevention campaign in Kampala which was a great success.

 

Using sport to educate youth and young adults about HIV/AIDS and to further life skills in developing communities of the Western Cape. Waves of Change is an award winning programme that uses integrated learning rooted in surfing and surf culture to teach at-risk young adults about the HIV virus and to build and develop supportive communities that will take a stand against stigma and discrimination against those that are HIV+. Waves for Change is a peer education programme which, together with the AMAZA magazine for use in townships, is aimed to reach 20,000 young adults in Monwabisi beach and the Masiphumelele community.

 

On-going funding for the little orphanage in Khayelitsha township championed by Sarina and Roger Taylor, for articles and pictures please see the MPT website. Abigail now often has 240 kids crammed into her premises, many of them HIV+ or AIDS orphans.

 

Targeting young girls and raising HIV/AIDS awareness and protection from harm and abuse amongst young people in nine remote rural schools in Northern Namibia. Many children are schooled far from home, often housed in hostels with little or no supervison at week-ends. The project will organise workshop programmes at weekends using drama, dance and drumming to raise HIV awareness and to convey stories of Africa. A rolling programme of 7 half-day session to be held in each school, the final workshop to culminate with a performance attended by the local community spreading the HIV message to a wider audience.

 

On-going contribution to the overall running of the Sisonke project the MPT supported last year. The project operates in a region where HIV/AIDS has had a devastating effect on families, leaving many children without one or both parents and the grandparents (mainly female) in the role of carer. Sisonke mobilises and empowers these often elderly women who have formed a network known as the Gogogetters (gog is the Xhosa word for 'grandmother') by providing mentoring and training. This support helps to build their knowledge of HIV, develop counselling skills, acquire home-based care qualifications and get them involved in national discussions affecting the elderly. The Gogos have built strong support networks and meet regulary to plan their work or eat and sew together. Sisonke deliver workshops, traning, outreach and organises social events. The main beneficiaries are orphans and vulnerable children and elderly people.

 

This youth-led development agency working in nine countries across sub Saharan Africa, South Asia and the UK empowering young people to take a leading role in addressing the most urgent issues facing their counties. 45% of all new infections are among young people aged 15-24. Young women account for 75% of young pepole living with HIV and AIDS. Women and Girls Leadership pilot project in the Ruvuma Region (at 15%, this region has the highest HIV prevalence in Tanzania) to address HIV/AIDS by empowering Girl Groups to become female role modes and 'trainers of trainers' for over 600 in each community and economic empowerment among women. Using their proven youth led approach, to recruit and train 15 rural young women aged 18-28 as peer educators to deliver weekly peer education and skills taining sessions. Will work with 75 local schools, 15 health centres, village leaders and district authorities fro 75 communities to provide support for in and out of school youth and community membes in sexual reproductive health and rights, livelihoods and employment and civic participation. Aim to reach 22,500 peers and community members diretly and 100,000 indirectly. Two year project.

 

Peer eduction and awareness project targeting youth and people living with HIV in the Gweru urban area. They will train 150 out of school youth to conduct effective workshops and disseminate accurate and up to date information on HIV/AIDS through the medium of drama, poetry, sports, focus group discussions and awareness and education campaigns, and through the procurement and distribution of condoms. This should benefit 30,000 youth aged 15-24 and they reckon to indirectly reach a further 10,000 to 15,000 young people.

 

Further funding towards their very successful Mamohato network of camps project. Sentebale have initiated a network of camps, teen clubs and caregiver days providing treatment, education, care and support for HIV+ children and their families. Camp educational sessions cover HIV/AIDS and treatment, the importance of sticking with antiretroviral drugs, sexual and reproductive health, dealing with stigma and discrimination and status disclosure. Set up by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho the charity provides care, health and education for orphans and vulnerable children. It features on the MPT website.

 

The MPT has been funding CORA on a regular basis since 2005. Further funding to continue their successful HIV/AIDS awareness prevention and control project. Targeting the high risk behaviour group of commercial sex workers and truck drivers as well as construction workers, students, youth, teachers etc. in 8 towns and 18 rural blocks of Tiruvannamalai and Tirunelveli Districts. They provide counselling for behaviour change, educate on safe sexual practices, facilitate STD clinical services and intensively promote comdom use. This is the first of a three year programme to conduct training programmes for grass root village health workers and to give care and support for the people living with AIDS (PLWHA).

 

Women and young girls migrate to neighbouring Chirala to work in the handloom weaving units or find employment in tobacco grading. This programme is to promote education and awareness on STDs and HIV/AIDS amongst migrating women in 10 villages of Prakasam District. The project activities will include informal meetings, awareness camps, formation of womens organisations and adolescent girls groups, networking of groups, training of trainers, door to door campaigns, seminars, distribution of IEC materials etc. Total population of these villages is approx. 200,000.

 

The MPT has been supporting them on a regular basis since 2002. Funding towards the 2nd year of their health project and HIV/AIDS awareness, education and counselling programmes implemented by the Earth Trust. The HIV+ programme provides counselling, nurturing skills and home based care with local care workers. The plan is to extend the clinical trials for HIV/AIDS patients using the ancient Indian Siddha traditional medicine to more villages as, despite the awareness programmes, the incidence of HIV/AIDS is increasing dramatically in the Nilgiri Hills region. The education programme in schools will include information about reproductive organs, puberty, physical and mental changes and the challenges of adolescence and the basics of HIV/AIDS/STDs. It will benefit people from tribal communities, under privileged groups and HIV+ women, and the men and children in 16 villages.

 

Further funding for this grass roots women run organisation to strengthen the impact and extend the project MPT supported in 2010 to 20 more villages. Prevention of HIV/AIDS through training and education of vulnerable groups, stakeholders and the general public in Arni Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District. To organise health education programmes for adolecents and train 200 peer counsellors, organise HIV/AIDS education progammes for married men and women (20-35 age group) in each village. They plan a mass education programme using street theatre in each of the 20 villages. Targeting 25,000 people - to benefit 1,200 adolescents, 1,200 young couples and indirectly, families and the general community.

 

Project to build HIV/AIDS awareness among 29 tribal communities and to provide support to women and childen affected and infected by the virus through sensitisaton and awareness campaigns and public meetigs using cultural and folk art, rallies, public walks, exhibitions and displays. Targeting a population of approx. 80,000 and to support 86 families. The MPT gave their first grant in 2006 and receive regular updates and reports.

 

NGO working on womens and childens development programmes, environmental protection, vocational training and HIV/AIDs. An HIV/AIDS awareness programme targeting college and high school students, women, health care professionals, paramedical staff and the general public in Prakasam district. A one year project which will be carried out via public meetings in market places and awareness generation camps for students. They will provide training to the at risk community groups of sex workers and drivers and produce and disribute IEC materials in the local language. Free distribuiton of condoms and disposable syringes. They will co-operate with the local primary health centre workers and specialists from the disrict medical and health departments.

 

RURAL AND URBAN WOMEN'S WELFARE ORGANISATION                                       TAMIL NADU, INDIA

A comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and education project planning to train 3,000 volunteers who will be selected from different sex groups (adults, youth and adolescents) in 25 tribal villages in the Tamil Nadu state. They will organise intensive health eduction programmes for each group and develop their communication skills, provide a counselling and referral service and organise one mass health education programme per village on World AIDS day. A two year project, the total population of the villages is 340,000.

 

Building on the success of their previous awareness projects, SERUDS will extend the HIV/AIDS awareness project to 10 high prevalence mandalas in Kurnool. Previous grants have covered 8 mandalas. They will conduct 50 awareness camps, produce and distribute resource materials on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, and organise rallies. Using cultural programmes to reach the rural population and provide guidance and counselling for people infected with HIV/AIDS. Targeting women, youth, truck drivers, students and commercial sex workers. Direct beneficiaries are estimated at 3,000 people but they expect to reach thousands more through the mass campaigns.

 

Funding to promote HIV/AIDS awareness for girls and young women using sports in the Salia Sahai slum area of Bhubaneswar, Orissa. SNEH, a women-run NGO, have been involved in HIV/AIDS projects since 1995 and the MPT has contributed to the funding of this experienced and well run organisation since 2003. This programme will target adolescent girls (14-19) and young women (20-25) through a series of sporting activities, interactions and workshops on HIV/AIDS prevention, reproductive health rights, stigmatization, sexual violence and gender-based discrimination. This two year project will directly benefit 5,417 young women.

 

A highly respected NGO whom the MPT has been helping since 2003, working with 7 partner organisations. This is the second phase of their successful HIV/AIDS eduction programme for transport workers in Kustia. One project co-ordinator and one accountant will be recruited to oversee 4 local NGOs who will be selected to implement the project in the field and provide training to trainers from each NGO. Each NGO will deliver a one day HIV/AIDS training session to 1,500 transport workers in 60 batches. They will organise workshops for the leaders of transport workers, erect billbords, place wall writings, arrange gatherings in community centres, schools etc. The direct beneficiaries will be 6,000 bus, truck, taxi and rick shaw drivers and helpers.

 

Further funding to continue the HIV/AIDS/STDs prevention programme for another year in Mohespur Upazila and Jhenaidah district. There are no Government health facilities and services in this area. Targeting transport and industrial workers, van and rickshaw pullers, commercial sex workers, students and teachers as well as the general community. Awareness building though training courses and advocacy meetings, drama and folk songs and a World AIDS Day celebration. Workshops will be held in batches. The project aims to benefit approx 10,000 people in one year. The MPT has been donating funds to REO since 2005.

 

Further funding to extend the HIV/AIDS awareness raising project through the medium of folk song to seven more Uazilas in the Jessore district. They will organise folk song performances 25 days per month at community gatherings, festivals, fairs, exhibitions, markets, school and college celebrations etc. Using IEC materials (banners, posters, leaflets) focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention. Targeting youth, sex workers, transport workers and the general community. Aim to reach 20,000 people with this project.

 

MPT has been donating to this well run NGO in Kathmandu since 2005. On-going funding to deliver HIV/AIDS and STI awareness training and to facilitate peer education activities among young people at risk in the community and the north west part of the Kathmandu Valley. Youth led projects will focus on behaviour change, life-skills and peer education. Public awareness will be increased through broadcasting of radio programmes focusing on awareness, prevention, care, treatment and support for PLWHAs and the at-risk population. Prerana networks with a number of NGOs and is actively following the National AIDS Control programme, set up by the government. We recieve excellent reports.

 

Working with local NGO the Metta Development Foundation, the MPT has been asked to donate partial funding for this three year project to develop a drop-in service centre for people living with HIV in the Mogaung township of Kachin State. The Positive Living Centre will provide an information desk with HIV education and information, condom promotion and distribution. The weekly peer to peer education and couselling programme will provide advice on referral services, recreational activities, nutrition, home based care and train a small group of PLWHAs to work in the centre. PLWHAs will participate in the outreach programme to raise community awareness in 30 villages, they aim to reach 10,000 people. Statistics are hard to come by, but lack of knowledge surrounding HIV and sexual health, inadequate healthcare and intravenous drug use contribute to a believed 16,900 infections each year.

 

Started in 1998 by three African women compelled to do something to take young children in the notorious and violent Philippi area of the Cape Townships off the streets. Many of these kids have suffered horrific sexual abuse and violence, some are HIV+ and a good number are AIDS orphans. The local authorities are very supportive of this venture to establish an educare and welfare facility and to rid the community of this dangerous open space and help protect the children. The numbers of children in need are rising inexorably, at present they are using a leaky old hut and a shipping container and desperately need a further two containers. A prefab building is still a dream! Many of their parents are HIV+ and unable to work or feed themselves or their children. Three sisters also wishes to provide a soup kitchen for these sick people.