|
|
WHAT COMFORTING HEARTS IS ABOUT?
Guyana like several other countries is experiencing
a steady increase in the incidence of HIV infection and in the number of
persons diagnosed with AIDS. Given this patter, increasing number of individuals
will require HIV/AIDS awareness and education on the prevention and transmission
of HIV infection, to adequately protect themselves and others from HIV.
Comforting Hearts plays a major role in addressing these needs, especially
needs for HIV/AIDS & STI’s awareness and education.
“Comforting Hearts will offer counseling, care and
support to persons infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS and promote specific
HIV/AIDS educational programs for targeted groups in regions 5 & 6”.
Comforting Hearts was formed on the 23rd
September, 1998 when nineteen persons who were trained as HIV/AIDS counselors
by the National AIDS Program Secretariat decided that they would like to
do much more for Berbecians in the area of HIV/AIDS. It was officially
launched on the 10th December 1998. The organization has increased
its membership from 19 to 76 and also employs three full time staff; a
Project Coordinator, and two assistants. It has also acquired office space
and equipment to carry out its mandate. There are now three categories
of volunteers; counselors, peer educators and fundraisers.
Initially the organization benefited from capacity
building organized by PAHO/UNAIDS, who also provided a grant of US$2000
to Comforting Hearts to enable it to implement a project with youths. Other
donors, including UNICEF and USAID and the business community in region
6 are now supporting the organization to execute its mandate. PAHO/UNAIDS,
UNICEF and USAID have supported Comforting Hearts’ work with youths.
Since Comforting Hearts was established and officially
launched on December 10th 1998 it has grown tremendously. We
have faced many challenges but we were able to over come them all.
Comforting Hearts operates from an office that is
located at 15-13 Coopers Lane New Amersterdam.
The organization has both a senior group and a youth
arm.
The organizational structure is as follows:
President – Muriel Sandy
Vice President – Premkumar Jogi
Secretary/Treasurer – Ray Trellis
Asst/Sec/Treasurer – Mel Lewis
Public Relations Officer – Sheree Ross
Co ordinators – education – Jenny Amsterdam
-fundraiser
– Tracie Frank
Committee Members – Karen Paul
-Trevor
Mc Intosh
HIV/AIDS Counselors – 19
President – Rhondelle Jones
Vice President – Lyndon Leitch
Secretary/Treasurer – Yonette Abrams
Asst/Sec/Treasurer – Althea Schultz
HIV/AIDS Peer Educators – 35
It is very easy to become a Comforting Hearts volunteer.
You fill out an application form that asks some simple questions, attend
three consecutive meetings after which you will be interviewed and
then accepted.
Comforting Hearts is currently working along with
seven other non-governmental organizations in the USAID/Guyana HIV/AIDS
and STI’s Youth Project.
Comforting Hearts also receives assistance from other
donor agencies such as UNICEF, UNAIDS, PAHO and CIDA to promote educational
programs and projects.
Comforting Hearts collaborates with the following
organizations and has a good networking relationship with them.
·National AIDS Program Secretariat
·Lifeline Counseling Services
·Artiste in Direct Support
·Youth Challenge Guyana
·Volunteer Youth Corp
·Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association
·Linden Care Foundation
·Cry of AIDS Project (Bartica)
·Regions 5 & 6 AIDS Committee
·UNICEF
·UNAIDS
·USAID
·Ministry
of Youth Sports & Culture N/A
Comforting Hearts strives to meet the needs of regions
5 & 6 by providing the following services.
·Workshops and information sessions on HIV/AIDS & STI’s awareness and prevention
·HIV/AIDS Counseling, care & support
·Television appearance (health watch and advertisements)
·Regular HIV/AIDS outreach programs in regions 5 & 6
·Street Theatres with HIV/AIDS and STI’s information and messages
·Distribution of condoms and literature on HIV/AIDS and STI’s
·Annual
participation in World AIDS campaign activities.
Comforting Hearts
Lot 15-13 Coopers Lane,
New Amsterdam, Berbice
Guyana, South America
Telephone # 333-4722
Fax # 333-6997
E-mail: comfortinghearts@hotmail.com