Artistes in Direct Support

Artistes in Direct Support is a non-profit, community-based organization focused on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection (STI) education. Volunteers and staff educate at-risk populations through the performing arts, media, and peer education. With the additional funding from USAID, Artistes in Direct Support has expanded their scope of work to include community mobilization, capacity building, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), and outreach services for men having sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW).

Grants Received

GM-0079

  •  
    Award Period:
    October 01, 2015 to July 31, 2018

RFA No. GH-021

 Country: Guyana  |  Associated APC Country Office: Guyana

Community Health Matters Focus Area:
HIV and AIDS

Artistes designs client-responsive interventions for MSM, sex workers and their clients at higher risk for HIV infection and transmission. Artistes will provide 3-5 of the services recommended as national standard for the minimum package of prevention services –outreach education, mobile testing and small group level HIV preventive interventions that are based on evidence and meet the minimum standards required prevention education. Artistes will target several points in the pathway to HIV infection, address major drivers of HIV epidemics among key populations with high impact practices, including bi-directional referrals to a continuum of services. Their approach also integrates respect and observance of the rights of MSM, TG and FSW. The integration of supports for Domestic Violence and the building of healthy relationship within MSM and TG unions suggest promising outcomes in reducing HIV vulnerability.

Keywords: Guyana,

GM-0050: Improving Capacity to Deliver Effective HIV Services for Key Affected Populations in Guyana

  •  
    Award Period:
    February 01, 2014 to September 30, 2015

RFA No. GH-011

 Country: Guyana  |  Associated APC Country Office: Guyana

Community Health Matters Focus Area:
Capacity Building, HIV and AIDS

With additional funding from a grant awarded under Advancing Partners & Communities (APC), Artistes in Direct Support plans to expand their resources. The grant covers continued services for at risk populations including peer education and refresher training services, support group activities, capacity building through skills training and risk reduction counseling, VCT, referrals for other services, and monthly awareness outreaches. Artistes in Direct Support utilizes the Path For Life (MSM) and Keep the Light On (FSW) manuals that are currently widely used to address these key populations.

Keywords: Guyana, capacity building, HIV/AIDS, key populations, testing and counseling, training

GM-0016

  •  
    Award Period:
    September 01, 2013 to January 31, 2014

 Country: Guyana  |  Associated APC Country Office: Guyana

Community Health Matters Focus Area:
Capacity Building, HIV and AIDS

Through a grant awarded under Advancing Partners & Communities (APC), Artistes in Direct Support implements HIV/AIDS prevention activities through prevention packages that target several points in the pathway to HIV infection, address major drivers of HIV epidemics with efficacious primary interventions, improve the effectiveness of these interventions through combination, and provide basic strategies that support prevention and respect ethical imperatives for men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW). Program activities include promoting comprehensive HIV testing, linkage to care, risk reduction counseling, life skills, capacity building through multi session knowledge sharing outreaches, viral suppression through early detection, and treatment with antiretrovirals.

Keywords: Guyana, HIV/AIDS, key populations, testing and counseling, vulnerable populations