back to top HIV and AIDS charity AVERT in action
AVERT’s charity work consists of three closely related programmes of activity.
AVERT’s Community Programme supports and builds partnerships with local organisations who are working to directly avert the spread of HIV and AIDS, and to improve the treatment, care and support of people infected with, or affected by HIV and AIDS. AVERT’s current HIV and AIDS projects, and partnerships are taking place in southern Africa, particularly in areas where there are extremely high rates of HIV infection.
“Thanks so much - you have absolutely changed my life for the better.”
Liam
AVERT also provides a wide range of information to educate people about HIV and AIDS across the world. AVERT’s highly successful website, avert.org, the most popular HIV and AIDS website in the world, has over 200 pages which describe all aspects of HIV and AIDS, as well as having specific areas for young people, interactive quizzes, an extensive photo gallery, and videos. The site is visited by nearly a million people each week.
AVERT’s Information and Advocacy Service also provides help and advice to the general public through specific enquiries, as well as campaigning for improved responses on specific issues, such as preventing children being born with HIV.
back to top AVERT's community programme
These are some examples of our current projects and partnerships in South Africa and Malawi.
Sisonke
Based in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, the Sisonke project is working to strengthen and empower small community groups who are actively responding to the needs of local people severely affected by HIV/AIDS. The project has a particular focus on providing training and mentoring to elderly carers of orphans and vulnerable children. Sisonke helps these groups to develop their HIV/AIDS activities, to get treatment, and supports them in providing education and care in their communities. Sisonke is helping to meet the needs of around 20 rural communities, reaching an estimated 1,800 people directly and 84,000 indirectly. AVERT has been working with Sisonke since 2004.
Umunthu Foundation
Umunthu Foundation is a community organisation based in Bangwe township, Blantyre, Malawi. Since AVERT began working with Umunthu in February 2010, they have tested over 20,000 people for HIV across their three community-based voluntary counselling and testing centres. Clients who test positive for HIV are referred to health services for follow up and treatment. Umunthu also supports HIV prevention among young people through anti-AIDS youth groups in 12 secondary schools and a post-test club that meets in their open-access community library on HIV/AIDS and sexual health. They also provide support to people living with HIV through home-based carers support groups for local women.
You can learn more about AVERT's partners in sub-Saharan Africa on our overseas projects page.
back to top AVERT needs your help
AVERT as a charity relies on the generosity of the public to keep our activities going. If you are able to make a donation this will actively contribute to the work of AVERT, and we will be extremely grateful. There are many great ways you can fundraise to support our work, some of which are listed on our fundraising page, or you can call us on 01403 210202, or email info@avert.org, to discuss any other fundraising ideas. We would love to hear from you.
If you would like your donation to go towards one particular area of our charity work, such as our partnerships in Africa, then please do let us know and we will be delighted to do this.
back to top How is AVERT organised?
To keep our administration costs as low as possible, AVERT has just one office in Horsham, in the South of England. Our address is 4 Brighton Road, Horsham, West Sussex, England, RH13 5BA.
AVERT was started in 1986 and was previously known as the "AIDS Education & Research Trust". AVERT is registered in England, Charity No. 1074849, Company No. 3716796.