Swaziland Positive Living (SWAPOL) a non-governmental organisation based in Swaziland and implementation partner of UK based NGO Positive Women, has been awarded the 2011 AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) HIV, TB and Human Rights Award at a ceremony hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa.
SWAPOL is at the forefront of Swaziland’s response to HIV/AIDS. While it operates in a politically and legally hostile environment, SWAPOL has succeeded in driving community based projects and activities that have created a space and boosted the skills required for making their needs known to local and national government officials in the pursuit of meaningful advocacy of policy change.
The award was established in 2007 to recognize and support ARASA partners who are carrying out innovative and groundbreaking human rights advocacy on HIV and TB in extremely challenging political climates. “SWAPOL have worked tirelessly in extremely political and legal difficult conditions and despite these challenges have achieved many successes. Their ongoing commitment to access to life-saving anti-retroviral treatment and the consistent engagement of the community as pillars of the work they do, indicates the potential that is held by every organisation in the partnership,” explained Michaela Clayton, Director of ARASA.
SWAPOL was formed in 2001 as a coping strategy for five HIV positive women who were encountering stigma and discrimination from their families and community members. It was initially established as a support group to empower families of HIV positive people to cope, accept and deal with HIV. However, the group gradually evolved into a professional organization and was registered and incorporated in 2003, and transformed into a non-governmental organization (NGO) in 2006. SWAPOL currently serves 5700 members in support groups in 54 rural communities. This target group includes people living with HIV, orphans and vulnerable children and their families.
“We are glad to receive this recognition and the appreciation of our work by the partnership. It is indeed very humbling. This has been a particularly challenging year for us, given the socio-economic and political climate in our country. In addition, the cut-backs in funding for HIV has had a significant impact on our work,” said Cebile Dlamini, Programmes Coordinator at SWAPOL as she accepted the award. ”An award like this is what keeps us going and gives us hope.”
Director of Positive Women Stephen Brown, expressed his delight at the award: “We’re so pleased that SWAPOL are getting recognition through this award. They are a truly inspirational organisation that works tirelessly and relentlessly to improve the lives and conditions of the people of Swaziland. I’m so proud that Positive Women is associated with them”.
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