There are many ways that Canadians can make a difference in the lives of the millions of people who have been affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa , but the biggest way Canadians can help is by being informed.

CAP AIDS is actively working to inform and educate Canadians about the HIV/AIDS pandemic through advocacy work and through memberships in Canadian organisations whose values CAP AIDS supports.

Imagine the difference it would make if...

• The Canadian population banded together to ask the government to make AIDS treatments available to all those who need them
• Every Canadian contributed just ten dollars per year to the global effort to fight AIDS
• Canadians began to recognize HIV/AIDS as a human rights issue

On February 22, 2005, Kevin Perkins, Executive Director of CAP AIDS Senate appeared before a session of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on health in Africa as a witness. Kevin's speech focused on the need to make HIV/AIDS a major cross-cutting theme of all forms of Canadian cooperation and engagement in Africa , and the importance of re-engaging Canadians and Canadian civil society in responding to the AIDS crisis in Africa . Kevin drew on the examples of the outpouring of Canadian support in response to the famine in the Horn of Africa in the 1980s, the Vietnamese "boat people" refugee crisis in the 1970s and the overwhelming response to the recent Tsunami, as examples of the type of response that is needed. (link to text of speech)



CAP AIDS Executive Director Invited to Address the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology

Kevin Perkins appeared as a witness before the Committee to comment on Bill C-9 - the bill designed to permit Canadian generic pharmaceutical companies to produce patent-protected drugs for export to developing countries. Kevin's speech focused on the fact that Bill C-9 needed to be judged exclusively on its ability to save or extend lives by making medicines cheaper and more available to people in poor countries.

Education in Schools

In the Spring of 2005, CAP AIDS arranged for Joseph van Veen to speak in a number of Toronto area schools on his experiences during his 2004 Ride for Hope through Africa . AIDS education is especially important among young people, and Joseph was able to provide his unique and very personal perspective on HIV, the AIDS pandemic in Africa, and how we all have a role to play in fighting AIDS, both here at home and globally.

Youth in Partnership to Cap AIDS

With generous funding from Health Canada, CAP AIDS hosted a “Youth in Partnership to CAP AIDS” international tour involving Canadian youth, Malawi youth, Canadian secondary schools and health agencies and individuals. (more... )

CAP AIDS Youth Troupe Project in BC

With a grant from the TD Securities Staff Charity Auction, CAP AIDS engaged Confort Ero, a Nigerian-Canadian storyteller, to bring together 10 African Canadian young people to create a dramatic storytelling presentation. Over several weeks, the “CAP AIDS Youth Troupe” developed a creative, interaction presentation involving short skits, music and dance. On World AIDS Day (December 1), the Youth Troupe, along with a Kenyan woman who is living positively with HIV, held students of Gladstone Secondary School spellbound during a lively and moving presentation. Students then decorated the school hallways with red HIV ribbons and posters with HIV/AIDS information. With a grant from the Vancouver Foundation, the Troupe took their performance to Nelson, BC, for several high school presentations.

Global Treatment Access Group (GTAG) - a working group of Canadian civil society organizations sharing information and undertaking joint activities aimed at improving access to essential medicines and other aspects of care, treatment and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and other health needs in developing countries.

SIGNATORY

CAP AIDS is a signatory to the following:

Statement of Commitment on HIV/AIDS Treatment, Microbicides and Vaccines - A global movement calling for a comprehensive united and focused global response to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic. The statement which is being facilitated by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network www.aidslaw.ca/, recognises that HIV/AIDS activists worldwide have common interests and yet prevention, care and treatment strategies are often pursued exclusively. Signatories to the statement are united in their advocacy toward research and development, funding, trial, manufacture, procurement and delivery of vaccines and microbicides. The Statement recognises the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a human rights issue and advocates approaches that promote the rights of all people to equitable access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and support opportunities.

Text of Statement is available at by clicking here.

PARTNERSHIPS


CPAR (Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief)
CPAR is a non-profit organization working in partnership with vulnerable communities and diverse organizations to overcome poverty and build healthy communities in Africa. CPAR's work includes primary health care, food security, water & sanitation and supporting sustainable livelihoods.



CSRAI (Canadian Support of Rural African Initiatives)



In partnership with community-based organizations in Africa, CSRAI enables communities and families to address the impacts of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In Canada , CSRAI strives to raise the Canadian public's level of awareness of HIV/AIDS in a global context.



Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Canada (NMCF) - NMCF works to support the Nelson Mandela Childre'ns Fund in South Africa. NMCF works to assist disadvantaged children and youth in South Africa.



Teresa Group - The Teresa group working in association with the HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Care Team at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children and other community agencies, to ensure that the voices of children and families affected by HIV/AIDS are met.



WUSC - Click to visit the WUSC website.



Friends of Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity (NOAH)

Friends of NOAH works to support NOAH in South Africa. NOAH’s aim is to help the staggering number of children orphaned by AIDS to mature into emotionally and psychologically stable adults, capable of forming lasting and loving relationships, of being nurturing parents to their own children and responsible and participative citizens of South Africa.