UNICEF and Scotiabank are offering support to the tune of $4M to four NGOs that assist youth affected by HIV/AIDS.

According to a press release, during the annual UNICEF/Scotiabank joint fundraising event last year, Scotiabank International pledged an additional $4 million to HIV-related projects targeting youth. As partners, UNICEF has been working closely with Scotiabank to identify suitable projects for this support and four NGOs drawn from Regions Two and Seven and from the East Coast Demerara are set to receive support amounting to $1M each.

The release said too in preparation for Guyana’s hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 UNICEF, Scotiabank and the Guyana Cricket Board had teamed up to use the sport of cricket and the reach of the WICB Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket programme to conduct basic HIV/AIDS awareness. Also, in 2006 UNICEF and the UNAIDS Secretariat in Guyana both signed an MOU with Scotiabank formalizing this partnership.

“Building on that success UNICEF and Scotiabank have been working together in various ways to continue to share information and raise awareness on this issue,” the release said.