U.S. Embassy Distributes over US$25,000 in the Fight against AIDS

From left to right: Sharon Ramsaran and Hetty Sarjeant of Caribbean HIV and AIDS Alliance, Ambassador Beatrice W. Welters, Joyce Murray of Soroptimist International (Tobago), Kristen Farrell of the U.S. Embassy and Kenisha Thom of Arts Insight

From left to right: Kristen Farrell of the U.S. Embassy, Cherese Washington and Besidone Ogbemi of the Esimaje Foundation and Ambassador Beatrice W. Welters

July 23, 2012

Over the last two weeks, Ambassador Beatrice W. Welters has presented over US$25,000 in grants to different organizations which aim to increase awareness on and stem the spread of HIV/AIDS.  PEPFAR (The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) grants of US$2,355 were given to the Esimaje Foundation, US$5,000 to the Tobago chapter of Soroptimists International, and US$8,000 to Arts Insight. The U.S. Embassy also gave a US$10,000 grant to the Caribbean HIV and AIDS Alliance.

The Esimaje foundation is initiating a project, “Living with and Relating to Persons Living with HIV and AIDS”.  It plans to host a series of workshops and seminars for individuals and their partners who have to cope with the virus.  Arts Insight’s project “Through Art There is Realization,” will include a number of painting and sculpting workshops held at community centers for infected youths 15-30 and their families and friends.  The workshops will be facilitated by prominent artists and trained counselors.   Soroptimists International’s project, “Eliminating the Stigma of HIV/AIDS in the Bethel Community,” aims to sensitize the community to discrimination and issues related to HIV/AIDS.  The Caribbean HIV and AIDS Alliance’s project, “HAPPI,” is aimed at increasing awareness of the dangers of risky behavior among inmates as well as a peer support group for HIV positive prisoners. 

The PEPFAR initiative is the U.S. government’s leading initiative to help those suffering from HIV and AIDS around the world.  This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally.