Culture and HIV/AIDS
Welcome
HIV/AIDS: The Creative Challenge
Engaging culture and creativity in HIV/AIDS prevention
HIV/AIDS: The Creative Challenge was an action-research project that aimed to improve the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention and coping strategies through valuing local cultures and employing cultural approaches approach to education, information sharing and community dialogue and communications.
Between 2004 and 2008 the project worked to develop an evidence base and an international practice and policy network in four regions. The project engaged with organisations and practitioners using cultural approaches in Vietnam, Cambodia, Kenya, South Africa, Jamaica and Trinidad.
Six workshops were held with practitioners over two years and 22 case studies detailing cultural approaches have been documented. The project has engaged with over 150 organisations including practitioners, donors, academics and government ministries. The project was supported initially by Exchange/Healthlink and the UNESCO/UNAIDS programme on A Cultural Approach to HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care, and latterly by the UK Department For International Development's ICD Seed Fund.
Cases studies and learning from each of four regions - the Caribbean, Cambodia & Viet Nam, Kenya, and South Africa have been documented and are available to view or download from the regional pages on this microsite.
The Resources section contains a set of papers and briefings that draw on the action research in the four regions as well as literature and policy to outline key issues in relation to the role of culture in HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
Creative Exchange would like to thank all the project partners who participated in workshops and the production of case studies for this project for their invaluable insights and contributions.
We would also like to thank consultants and contributors Nigel Cross, Judy El Bushra, Mary Marsh & Robin Vincent, and local project managers Michael Holgate (Caribbean), Jane Martin (Cambodia and Viet Nam), Laura Myers (South Africa) and Oby Obyerodhyambo (Kenya).