CHIMOIO – Two community-based organizations in Manica Province, grantees of Lurdes Mutola Foundation for projects in sexual reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, have won an award for best practices in the implementation of their projects. Of the top three award winners, Youth Club of the Macequece Community Radio and Pembenuca are grant recipients of the Lurdes Mutola Foundation under the Small Grant Program for Mozambique, funded by the Ford Foundation.
The award called “Best practices in Prevention of HIV with sensibility in gender” is a GTZ- Multisectoral HIV/AIDS Control in Mozambique funded award implemented by the Provincial Directorate of the National AIDS Council. The Provincial Directorate oversaw the jury that is also comprised of representatives from MONASO, the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare and Save the Children. Over 100 organizations submitted their applications for the award of which 15 were short-listed and three won cash prizes.
The Youth Club of the Macequece Community Radio won the first place prize of $5,000 for their project called “Open World”. The project received a 100,000 meticais grant from the Lurdes Mutola Foundation in February 2009. Their project of live radio programs on a mobile studio took place over six months. The group visited seven locations in Manica District and the radio programs themes were on sensitizing about marriage and early pregnancy, its consequences and ways to prevent them.
Pembenuca, an organization whose programs are implemented outside Chimoio, won the third place prize of $1,500 for their project called “Youth Together for Youth Against AIDS”. The Lurdes Mutola Foundation’s grant of 100,000 Meticais allowed for the organization to involve youth and especially couples in theatre pieces and debates through a door-to-door approach in the rural areas of Gondola District.
The Small Grant Program for Mozambique exists since 2008 in four districts of Manica province with thirteen new grants being awarded in December of 2009 in Manica and Sofala Provinces, with a global grant amount of 937,800 Meticais. The grantees are youth and women community based organizations that submit project proposals to implement activities around sexual and reproductive health, gender empowerment and income generating activities. Along with the grants, the Lurdes Mutola Foundation also provides capacity building and training from their office in Chimoio.
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