Overview

Through partnerships with AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) located across Canada, this collaboration is being used to highlight key issues and further the work being done by ASOs to encourage HIV prevention, testing and treatment while challenging pervasive stigma. We are continually building our network of ASOs through valuable partnerships to strengthen this impact.

Voices for World AIDS Day began 14 years ago with a vision for joining Canadians across the country together on December 1st. Every year, we engage government leaders and encourage civil support through promoting social media participation using the hashtags #Voices4HIV and #VoixSIDA, attending community World AIDS Day events hosted by one of our partners, wearing a red ribbon in solidarity and looking out for one of the historic landmarks lit up in red on December 1st. Together, we raise our hands and voices in remembering those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. It is our collective goal to continue to increase awareness of prevention methods and better support those who are living with HIV across Canada. 

​Our Initiatives

Social Media: Custom posts are designed for partners to use on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtags #Voices4HIV and #VoixSIDA. A full social media package will be provided for partners with content for social media posts. 

Website: On our website VoicesforWorldAIDSDay.ca or VoixSida.ca, we raise awareness, provide basic information about HIV and profile all partnering organizations. ​

​Shared stories: Stories of everyday people living with HIV across Canada are shared on the Voices for World AIDS Day website with the aim of provoking thoughtful discussion, highlighting key issues as expressed by people living with HIV as well as challenging stigma. 

Events: Events hosted by partners on or around World AIDS Day are highlighted and promoted on the website.
 
Government Engagement: Reach out to government leaders, provide ribbons, information on HIV/AIDS and request participation at events as well as social media. 

Landmarks: We secure a number of landmarks to illuminate in red in recognition of World AIDS Day 
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Red Ribbons: Provide ribbons at a minimal cost to any organization or individual through online ordering. 

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Goals for 2018

This year,  we have secured basic funding to expand our work from ViiV Healthcare as presenting sponsor. This is making our work possible, without any financial expectation from partnering organizations. Voices for World AIDS Day works to serve, support and connect ASOs, and to further our collective platform of increasing HIV awareness to the Canadian public, and further awareness of the work being done across the country by our organizations. 

1) We are working to expand our partnership from 9 ASOs across Canada to 20. We want to better represent different populations, demographics, and regions of the country through expanded partnership this year.

2) Last year we achieved over 1 million online impressions with our social media campaign. We want to extend further to reach more people with more success directing people back to the website, increasing engagement and learning. 

3) Improve the website with more information on HIV, stories of people living with HIV, and profiling of partner organizations and the events across the country. 

4) We have connected with CBC and are looking to use their expertise for communications, with the potential of their efforts for fundraising initiatives through their Employee Resource Group chapters across the country for our local ASO partners. 

 5) We are working to extend our connections with government, community leaders, and social influencers to have them participate in our campaign and recognize Voices of World AIDS Day as the largest Canadian initiative on the day. 
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6) We are working to continue to build connections and community amongst ASOs across the country.

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Why Become a Partner?

World AIDS Day offers a unique platform to build awareness initiatives to better educate Canadians about the virus and the impact it has nationally. A united voice, made up of like-minded ASOs across Canada, gives strength to the efforts aimed at raising awareness and supporting action needed to address HIV in Canada. Voices partner organizations benefit from valuable knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer through collaboration with a network of similar organizations. Further, the impact of the work being done to support HIV prevention, testing and treatment and the fight against stigma is reinforced as more individuals, communities and organizations across the country are reached through the network. 

Simply put, there is strength in our voices when we use them together in this shared cause.  

Partner Responsibilities

Partnering with Voices for World AIDS Day is a low commitment for an ASO. There are no financial obligations, and time commitment can be as little as 4 hours overall.

Here are the various components: 

1) Complete the application form, providing basic information on the organization, and any activities you have planned for World AIDS Day 2018. Any events you have will be promoted on our website

2) Share a minimum of 10 pre-crafted social media posts on your Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram (whichever you have) leading up to, and on, World AIDS Day. These are posts with infographics covering the various aspects of HIV important for Canadians to learn about. (For archives from 2017, check out #voices4HIV, #voixSIDA on social media channels). 

3) Join the 2 one hour teleconference meetings leading up to Voices for World AIDS Day, bringing together partners from across the country as we prepare for the day, share insights, and learn about activities happening coast to coast.
 
4) Recognize your partnership to Voices for World AIDS Day in any events you may be having leading up to/ on the day, showing your connection to the work being done across the country. 

5) Complete a final evaluation form to review your experience, insights, success of any events you had, and impact of your social media. This is done online and is roughly 15 questions. 
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6) If you are interested in seeing our work go further in any area, there are opportunities for engaging above and beyond these few components. 

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Partner Application

APPLY

To apply, complete the basic online form with overall details about your organization. (click APPLY above)
Following your submission, we will reach out with a contract for engagement, request your logo, and request your participation in development of a story of someone living with HIV in your community. 

Submissions need to be completed no later than October 1st, 2018 to participate in the 2018 Voices for World AIDS Day Campaign. 
If you have any questions during this process, please send an email to Efe Ekperigin at voices@CANFAR.com or telephone 416-361-6281