Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention
The Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP) is a Canadian nonprofit organization and registered charity (business registration number 139274864RR0001) focused on HIV/AIDS education, support, and advocacy within South Asian communities. Founded in 1989, it originated from voluntary efforts by members of Khush, a now-defunct social group for South Asian LGBTQ+ individuals, in response to a South Asian couple who died of AIDS-related complications while facing language and cultural barriers in accessing care[3].

ASAAP delivers culturally responsive services in languages including Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Bengali[3]. Its programs encompass preventative education, outreach, and direct support for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS across the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions[3][4]. The organization operates with an 11-member volunteer board of directors and relies on collaboration with staff and community volunteers[3].

Recognized for its intersectional approach, ASAAP addresses systemic inequities in healthcare access and stigma reduction[4]. The organization acknowledges its work on the traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca, and Mississaugas of the Credit River[4]. While initially focused on HIV/AIDS, its advocacy extends to broader health equity issues impacting South Asian diasporic communities in Canada[5].

[1] https://www.asaap.ca/our-history [2] https://www.cassa.ca/empowering-south-asian-a-spotlight-on-asaap/ [3] https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/service-provider-directory/alliance-for-south-asian-aids-prevention/ [4] https://www.asaap.ca [5] https://thephilanthropist.ca/2011/07/an-opportunity-to-lead-south-asian-philanthropy-in-canada/