2006 AMBASSADOR'S SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR HIV/AIDS

UNCLAS NASSAU 000863

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR WBENT
CDC FOR GAP/CRO FITZPATRICK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID TBIO KHIV BF
SUBJECT: 2006 AMBASSADOR'S SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR HIV/AIDS

REF: PORT OF SPAIN 417


1. SUMMARY: The Bahamas is making continued progress in the
fight against HIV/AIDS because of the cooperative efforts of
government and non-governmental organizations. However,
persons living with HIV/AIDS face stigma and discrimination
as a result of their infection. To address this concern,
Post is submitting five separate proposals totaling $24,969
for grants from the 2006 Ambassador's Small Grants Program
for HIV/AIDS targeting the reduction of HIV-related stigma,
improved public awareness and the involvement of persons
living with HIV/AIDS. END SUMMARY.

AIDS Foundation - Concert for Positive Living
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2. The AIDS Foundation is a well-established NGO that works
closely with the Ministry of Health, the HIV/AIDS Secretariat
and other NGOs in the Bahamas, and supports a variety of
causes and activities in the fight against HIV/AIDS.. It
engages in fund raising activities and holds several major
events each year. The AIDS Foundation is well-known and
well-respected in the community. One of its current major
activities is the establishment of a residential facility for
HIV/AIDS infected and affected orphans.


3. The AIDS Foundation is requesting funding to hold "The
Concert for Positive Living," an event using music to focus
on the reduction of stigma and discrimination towards persons
living with HIV/AIDS and to promote HIV/AIDS awareness in the
general population. The concert will feature young Bahamian
musicians and the band "Andrew Jones and Spirit House." Mr.
Jones is a well-known Bahamian singer who is HIV positive and
is involved with both the AIDS Foundation and the Bahamas
National Network for Positive Living (BNN ). The event will
be recorded on CD and video for distribution to local
television and radio. Initial discussion of the proposal
resulted in immediate community donations of venue, part of
the entertainment, and event workers.


4. Budget for the Concert for Positive Living:

Poster printing (2,000 b/w and 500 color): $300
Passes and artwork: $1050
Print, TV and radio advertising: $2,700
Promotional T-shirt printing (700@$5): $3,500
Equipment Rentals: $745
Entertainment (bands): $1800
Total Requested: $10095

New Providence Center - "The Face of AIDS" Campaign
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5. The New Providence Community Center is a faith-based NGO
that has long supported community development projects in The
Bahamas, including its "HIV/AIDS" rock garden project. The
Center is devoted to social justice projects, including
support of youth development, anti-drug campaigns,
environmental protection, disaster assistance, housing
assistance and HIV/AIDS awareness. It has offered to provide
its extensive facilities and equipment to the "Concert for
Positive Living" project at no cost. New Providence Community
Center is well-known and respected in the community, and
seeks to increase its HIV/AIDS prevention work.


6. The Center is requesting funding to present a nationwide
print advertising campaign entitled: "The Face of AIDS."
The campaign would place advertisements in the major daily
newspapers and local magazines showing prominent Bahamian
politicians, athletes, religious leaders and persons living
with HIV/AIDS, standing together under the title "The Face of
AIDS in The Bahamas." The goal is to show the acceptance of
HIV/AIDS, including the acceptance of persons living with
HIV/AIDS, by prominent persons to reduce the stigma of living
with HIV/AIDS. During initial discussions of the project, a
photographer and graphic designer agreed to donate services
to develop the advertisement and several prominent persons --
including a key local religious leader -- expressed interest
in participating.


7. Budget for "The Face of AIDS" Campaign:

Purchase of print advertising (11 full page spots @ $455):
$5005

BNN - Ceramic Quilt Project
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8. The Bahamas National Network for Positive Living (BNN )
is a network and support group for Bahamians living with and
affected by HIV/AIDS. It is a developing organization that
has played a small role in advocacy for persons living with
HIV/AIDS, but its membership and its potential community role
is not what it could be due to the stigma of living with
HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas. It is a well-respected group within
the Bahamas HIV/AIDS community, loosely affiliated with the
AIDS Foundation and focused on support for infected persons.


9. BNN is requesting funding to prepare a "HIV/AIDS
Awareness Quilt" and display the quilt throughout The
Bahamas. A well-known Bahamian ceramic artist would hold a
workshop with students from different parts of The Bahamas to
prepare the ceramic quilt, which will focus on "Living with
HIV/AIDS." The goal of the project is to show a student's
perspective on HIV/AIDS, to increase awareness of persons
living with HIV/AIDS and to promote BNN . Initial inquiries
with Government officials resulted in offers to display the
finished artwork in various public places in The Bahamas
including the airport, government offices and the art museum.
The location for the workshop has been donated, as have
supplies, leaving the main costs the logistics of the
preparatory workshop itself.


10. Budget for BNN Ceramic Quilt Project

Air transportation workshop participants: $1553
Hotel accommodations (4 rooms/3 nights): $1680
Meals (25 participants at $20/day):$500
Ground transfer: $136
Print promotion of quilt display (posters and newspaper):
$1000
Total Requested: $4869


HIV/AIDS Secretariat - "Know Your Status" Campaign
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11. The HIV/AIDS Secretariat, a well-established government
entity within the Ministry of Health, proposes to run a
two-month television and radio advertising campaign entitled
"Know Your Status" whereby persons are encouraged to be
tested for HIV/AIDS and told the process for free testing
through the Secretariat. The HIV/AIDS Secretariat has agreed
to match the small grant award dollar for dollar. ZNS
Network, the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, has
agreed to match both the small grant fund and the HIV/AIDS
Secretariat dollar for dollar. The advertisements will be

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produced free of charge by the Secretariat and ZNS Network.


12. Budget for "Know Your Status" Campaign:

Two months television advertising for 2 daily advertisements
(est.): $10000
Two months radio advertising for 4 daily advertisements
(est.): $10000
Agreed matching donation by ZNS: -$10000
Agreed matching donation by HIV/AIDS Secretariat: -$5000
Total Requested: $5000


13. Embassy point of contact is Gregory A. Floyd, Pol/Econ
Officer, 242-322-1181 ext. 4510, floydga@state.gov.
HARDT