AIDS Law Project
Nairobi
The Challenges
AIDS Law Project (ALP) is a legal-based non-governmental organization that deals with legal issues on HIV and AIDS in Kenya. ALP was established with a vision for Kenya to become a nation well informed on the legal issues and legal rights affecting people living with AIDS/HIV (PLHIV). They provide legal services, counseling and information for PLHIV in Kenya and East Africa. Many of their beneficiaries live in slums and have no access to Internet, or they can only occasionally afford to browse the web briefly in an Internet cafe. Some may not be literate in English and/or Swahili and rely on getting information verbally. While many beneficiaries reach ALP through partnering NGOs based in their communities, others wish to remain anonymous and rely on the Internet to get their information.
ALP was very interested in branding themselves in a way that was more representative of their mission. They wanted a new logo to represent their flight for justice on behalf of PLHIV including protecting and supporting this marginalized group and their human rights in hopes of a better life.
The Solutions
Incorporating the AIDS awareness red ribbon, a tree (representing protection and support), the sun (hope) and a person (life) with a new slogan "Human + Rights = Life Enhanced" was created for ALP's new identity. The Web site, print materials, and publication design, including business cards, letterhead and pamphlet template incorporated the new identity for ALP. A newsletter template was designed, which ALP has begun to use.
ALP reaches out to many people around Kenya and provides a wide range of legal information and advice. Housing all this information on a website allows ALP to provide this information to an innumerable group of interested people throughout Kenya. The previous website housed a lot of information, but there was not a clear organizational structure making it difficult to find both general information and information on a specific topic. The Parsons Fellow, Lien Tran, designed, developed and implemented a Drupal CMS site to house all types of legal resources, general information about ALP, and news and events from ALP. A training was also provided to ALP staff to show how easy updating and using the simple Drupal web forms interface was.
In 2009, ALP received a grant through the Open Society Institute for East Africa (OSIEA) and Foundation Open Society Institute (Zug) to simplify the key sections of Kenya's HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act (HAPCA). HAPCA included specific, clear examples and publish this version in booklet form for distribution throughout Kenya. Lien Tran designed the booklet's front and back covers plus the booklet's contents including callout boxes and illustrations.
In addition, ALP was invited to present a poster at the 2010 AIDS Conference in Vienna, which Lien created, with the theme, "Why Legal Empowerment of PLHIV and Community at Large?"
Photos
NGOs
AIDS Law Project (ALP)
Nairobi, Kenya
AIDS LAW PROJECT (ALP) is a non- governmental organization, which focuses on removing obstacles that prevent people with HIV/AIDS from having access to adequate health care and treatment in both the private and public sectors, from contesting unfair treatment and discrimination or that deny people with HIV/AIDS access to employment, employee benefits, insurance, education and other services. It was founded by two lawyers whose desire was to give back to society, through applying their legal expertise in assisting people living with HIV/AIDS to acquire equal rights and treatment. In the course of interacting with people living with HIV/AIDS, the founders realized that there was gap in provision of legal related services to people living with HIV/AIDS. The lack of information and knowledge has led many people to despair and give up in life. ALP envisions that when people are well informed about the rights, they will be able to make informed decisions, organize their lives and protect themselves from abuse and discrimination. ALP was formed in 2007 and registered on the same year.
Fellows
Lien Tran
Lien Tran is an interactive designer who loves experiencing new cultures, environments, and people. Lien has always been interested in technology, and studying and traveling abroad gave her a new perspective to look at technology and how it can positively impact societies. Lien previously studied and worked in business/information technology, and she currently is pursuing her MFA in Design and Technology at Parsons The New School for Design exploring how technology can promote human physicality and health.
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