United States Chargé d’Affaires John Dinkelman on Wednesday presented $14,000 to four different Bahamian non-governmental organisations who are on the frontlines of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The organisations submitted their winning proposals for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Small Grants Programme.

PEPFAR Small Grants Programme provides US government funding to non-governmental agencies, schools and community organisations in The Bahamas that are committed to promoting prevention activities focused on reducing the spread of HIV, reducing AIDS related stigma and discrimination, and encouraging the local community to cooperate in fighting the epidemic.

One of the recipients, the One Eleuthera Foundation, aims to use the funds to fund an HIV/AIDS awareness art contest at high schools on Eleuthera.

The winning pieces will be displayed at airports on the island.

The second group to receive the award was the Haitian Organization for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS & STDs (HOPHAS).

This group is expected to conduct the first PEPFAR funded outreach to the Haitian communities on Abaco and Eleuthera.

The Red Rose Ball Committee/Jaspora Media Group also received the grant that will cover a joint project to serve the Haitian community in Grand Bahama.

The final recipient was the Junkanoo Fun Group that will use their portion of the grant to fund participation in a junkanoo rush out to promote HIV/AIDS awareness at The Bahamas’ 40th Independence Day parade rush competition.