10 Jul 2002

singapore AIDS group seeks volunteers for MSM outreach project

Volunteers needed for Action for AIDS' HIV/ AIDS/ STI prevention programme for MSM in Singapore.

Action for AIDS (AfA), Singapore's only AIDS advocacy group, is re-launching its HIV/AIDS/STI prevention programme targeting Men who have Sex with Men (MSM).

The programme aims to involve MSM venues and businesses as part of a concerted attempt to deal with the significant number of MSM diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Singapore.

AfA is seeking volunteers (who may or may not be MSM themselves) to be involved in conducting a needs assessment survey, developing safer sex material for various media, offering counselling services, conducting outreach at various real and virtual MSM venues, and organising safer sex workshops and awareness-raising events.

Training will be provided when necessary. Interested individuals can contact Roger Winder by email rwinder@pacific.net.sg or phone 64722207.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

SURVEY Teams

Research team
- Quantitative sociological research experience useful
- Duties: planning surveys and FGDs, developing questionnaires, analysing
data, suggesting follow-up
- Dates: 1st survey: Aug 2002 week 1, Sep 2002 weeks 2-4, Jan-Mar 2003; 2nd survey: Jan-Feb 2004, Jun-Jul 2004

Focus Group Discussion Facilitators
- MSM preferred
- At least one Chinese speaker
- Duties: conducting/facilitaing the FGDs
- Dates: Aug 2002, weeks 3-4

Scribes for Focus Group Discussions
- MSM preferred
- One of the 3 has to be proficient in Chinese
- Duties: recording FGDs
- Dates: Aug 2002, weeks 3-4

Data Entry team
- Basic IT skills
- Duties: entering data from questionnaires
- Dates: - 1st survey: Nov 2002 - Jan 2003; 2nd survey: Apr -Jun 2004

Chinese Translator
- Duties: developing Chinese questionnaires
- Dates: 1st survey: Sep 2002, weeks 2-3; 2nd survey: Jan - Feb 2004

Anonymous Test Site Survey Team
- Free on Wed 6.30-8 or Sat 1-4
- Duties: distributing & collecting questionnaires
- Dates: 1st survey: Oct-Dec 2002; 2nd survey: Mar-May 2004
________________________________

OUTREACH Teams

- MSM preferred
- Training in Apr 2003
- Duties: distributing & collecting questionnaires, handling queries, distributing material
- Dates: 1st survey: Oct-Dec 2002; 2nd survey: Mar-May 2004; outreach from Aug 2003 onwards

Club Outreach Team
- Preferably regulars at bars/pubs/clubs
- Useful if someone in the team knows venue owners

Cruising Outreach Team
- Preferably regulars at saunas/cruising areas
- Useful if someone knows sauna owners

Virtual Outreach Team
- Preferably familiar with MSM portals, websites & e-groups
- Useful if someone in the team knows owners
________________________________

COUNSELLING Teams

- Training in Apr 2003
- Dates: On duty from May 2003 onwards

Telephone Counsellors
- MSM preferred

Virtual Counsellors
- MSM preferred
- Currently active in MSM chatrooms, IRC, etc.

Face-to-face Counsellors
________________________________

Information, Education, & Communication Team
- Dates: Mar-Jul 2003

Creative Team
- Duties: developing messages, visuals, material

Photographers, Graphic Designers, Illustrators

Uninhibited Male Models for Visuals [no pornographic shots, not to worry]
________________________________

VIRTUAL RESOURCE Team
- IT savvy
- Preferably active in the MSM community
- Duties: running a virtual bulletin board with information on MSM venues, groups, events, medical and legal contacts, etc.
- Dates: from May 2003 onwards
________________________________

IT SUPPORT Team
Duties
- Dveloping e-questionnaires
- Setting up framework for data entry
- Assisting the Virtual Teams
- Developing material for the Internet
________________________________

WORKSHOP Team
- Running safer sex & sexuality workshops
- Dates: Aug 2003 onwards
________________________________

EVENTS Team
- Organising or helping at MSM events

Training will be provided when necessary. Interested individuals can contact Roger Winder by email rwinder@pacific.net.sg or phone 64722207.

Singapore