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Tanga NGO emerges as finalist of Global Red Ribbon Award July 24, 2006: A Tanzanian NGO in Tanga Region, Tanga AIDS Working Group (TAWG) has been selected as a finalist for the Red Ribbon Award to be presented by UNDP at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto next month. The NGO was selected out of 571 nominations from communities demonstrating outstanding leadership in response to HIV and AIDS from all regions, the majority of which came from Africa, Asia and Latin America. TAWG is among the 25 selected exceptional communities, which have demonstrated outstanding leadership, impact and innovation in the response to HIV and AIDS. Among the 25 selected communities, 20 finalists will be awarded 5000 USD each, and five communities will be awarded 20,000 USD. Two representatives of each finalist community will be invited to participate in the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto in August 13 – 18 where their efforts and initiatives will be celebrated. To further give voice to the communities, the finalists will be provided with a space at the conference, which will offer the finalist communities an opportunity to showcase their projects, engage in extended dialogues, learn and transfer best practices and experiences as well as bridge the gap between new community innovations and international policy-making leaders in HIV and AIDS. The ‘dialogue space’ will provide opportunities for group discussions, presentations, press conferences and media interaction and hence develop an enabling environment for community participation in tackling HIV and AIDS. The Tanga AIDS Working Group is a collaborative venture by the Regional Health Team, AIDS Service Organizations involved in home based care and counseling services and traditional healers. The group was selected due to its recognition for the need for treatment and care for People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHAs) while organizing interventions that are aimed at raising awareness and addressing behavior change related to HIV and AIDS. To date, the NGO has empowered 60 community theatre groups by training them in HIV and AIDS knowledge, building their skills in theatre and supporting their performances in communities in order to deliver appropriate HIV and AIDS messages. TAWG has also trained 140 sex workers, ex drug addicts and 329 traditional healers as community educators. In 2004 the group was awarded a Presidential National Award for innovation and dedicated service to the fight against HIV and AIDS in Tanzania. The Red Ribbon is a global symbol in the movement to address AIDS. The Red Ribbon Award is an inaugural award, which will be presented every two years, designed to honor and celebrate outstanding community leadership and action that has helped curtail the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS. The award is a joint effort of the Leadership and Community Programme Committees of the International AIDS Conference, supported by UNDP globally on behalf of the UNAIDS family. For further information please contact our Public Information Unit.
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