Joining forces with Free School of Harm Reduction in Recife, Brazil

The Free School of Harm Reduction (Escola Livre de Redução de Danos – ELRD) and Mainline have started a new three-year project in Recife, Brazil. The goal of the project is to further increase demand for, access to and uptake of HIV and STI prevention, testing and treatment services. The project also aims to increase treatment adherence among marginalised adolescents and young people in Recife.

In the drop-in centre of Escola Livre, adolescents and young people are invited to peer support groups, monthly conversation circles and peer-led harm reduction counselling sessions. The project is a follow-up of the earlier successful collaboration between Escola Livre and Mainline.

The target audience of the project are adolescents and young people living on the streets, those from LGBTIQ+ communities, those who sell sex, and those who use drugs. The project aims to support them in increasing their resilience and reducing their risks to HIV infection. Escola Livre does this by offering low threshold HIV and STI testing, referral to HIV & STI prevention, care and treatment services, peer-led condom and lubricant distribution and comprehensive sexuality education.

Escola Livre also continues their highly successful Social and Personal Strengthening Course, which has shown to increase self-esteem, autonomy and personal growth among participants, while reducing poverty.

In addition, the project aims to train 200 peer workers as well as representatives from (municipal and state) governments, community-based organisations and legal bodies, on harm reduction, gender equality, intersectionality and structural barriers to healthcare. In collaboration with municipal and community organisations, Escola Livre is facilitating peer-led support mechanisms for addressing violence, conflict medication, discrimination, and gender norms. And most of all, more safe spaces.