Visiting Some Artists in Africa
In Limpopo, South Africa, we found some artists hard at work supporting their families with beautiful artwork created on looms.
It was wonderful to bring a few small items back to Canada as a reminder of these hard-working visionaries.
Snapshots of South Africa
This photo was taken by our Art for AIDS International workshop facilitator on September 3, 2015. No animals at this watering hole.
The riverbed was dry after three months of no rain. But the very next day....
A big difference. But one day of rain will not make the river flow. What a privilege to experience the nature and setting of this part of our world.
Sharing Knowledge, Sharing Innovation: North Star and Art for AIDS Exhibit in Rome
Last week, Art for AIDS International opened a large exhibit in collaboration with North Star Alliance and the World Food Programme at the Second Annual Global Agriknowledge Share Fair in Rome - hosted at the headquarters of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a UN agency responsible for combating rural hunger and poverty in developing countries.
The exhibit, which featured the recently launched North Star Alliance / Art for AIDS International portfolio, presented a large selection of artwork produced by truck drivers, sex workers, and young people from Harare and Beitbridge Zimbabwe, made during a recent workshop series hosted by Hendrikus Bervoets, Founder and Executive Director of Art for AIDS International.
The goal of this exhibit was to raise awareness about the impact of HIV and STIs on mobile populations, and on their direct and indirect contacts across Africa. Further, the exhibit highlighted tremendous initiatives by North Star Alliance and the World Food Programme which address these issues.
"While Art for AIDS International has traditionally worked with young people, we realized it was important to recognize hidden links in the transmission of HIV in Africa", explained Hendrikus.
Truck drivers, and the communities surrounding transport hubs, have traditionally lacked access to health care and information, and as a result, have been disproportionately affected by HIV and other diseases.
"By teaming up with North Star Alliance, an international not-for-profit organization that provides health care to mobile populations and communities surrounding borders and truck stops, we were able to adapt the Art for AIDS workshop model to bring important information, and hopefully a fun experience, to two communities heavily affected by these issues".
The exhibit, which ran from 26-29 September, was well received with many people stopping by to purchase prints - the proceeds of which will support both Art for AIDS International and North Star Alliance projects in southern Africa.
We would like to thank IFAD, the World Food Programme, and North Star Alliance for their support.
Over the next few weeks Art for AIDS International, and North Star Alliance will scheduling a series of exhibits to further feature this exciting project. Stay tuned for more details.
Driving the AIDS Response through Art
The following post originally appeared on the North Star Alliance blog on August 10, 2011.
On 26-29 July, North Star Alliance teamed up with Art for AIDS International to pilot a series of innovative visual-arts-based HIV workshops with truck drivers and sex workers in the community of Beitbridge, Zimbabwe.
These workshops, led by Art for AIDS International Executive Director Hendrikus Bervoets, use a combination of fact-based knowledge sharing, experiential learning, peer-peer support, and art making to explore specific and sensitive aspects of risk and vulnerability, especially as they relate to HIV and STI infection.
“Although HIV awareness is high, fear and stigma prevent many from getting tested and seeking treatment. These innovative workshops show that the process of combining health information, storytelling and art-making can be informative, therapeutic and fun for everyone involved” says Robin Landis, Director of Communications for North Star Alliance.
What is perhaps most exciting about these workshops, however, is the resulting body of artwork.
During the workshops participants translate their insights into the production of original collage artwork. Each collage is produced as original machine-made limited edition prints that are signed and numbered.
These prints will create a unique portfolio which will be collaboratively exhibited by North Star Alliance and Art for AIDS International to raise awareness about the impact of HIV on mobile populations, and proceeds to support both organisations’ work in Southern Africa. The portfolio will be officially released early this fall, so you'll have to wait until then to see it!
The workshops also provided North Star with an opportunity to collect mixed-method research on these key populations. “By interacting with truck drivers and sex workers outside of the clinic setting we were able to deepen our understanding of their health needs and tackle sensitive issues like HIV stigma" says Robin Landis.
North Star will use the participants’ feedback and in-depth interviews to improve our targeted services and programmes.