CONCEPTION

1  Structural prevention at manCheck Berlin

The “structural prevention”, in the definition by the Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (DAH)[1], is the foundation of the primary prevention (personal and institutional strengthening of the self-esteem and the capability to act). It is subdivided according to behavioural and situational prevention.

Behavioural prevention and situational prevention are an inseparable entity for manCheck.  Behaviour can only be learnt where the situation allows for it, i.e. doesn’t hamper it. In this respect manCheck’s activities direct themselves at both aspects, sometimes more directly assigned to one and sometime more to the other but never to a single of them on their own.

This text gives a brief introduction to manCheck’s work methods. We would be happy to present you with the whole concept with all activities and methods in person, including the areas, which we in the current framework (too little personnel and material resources) are not able to implement, yet still hold indispensible. Simply make an appointment. [link: rolf@mancheck-berlin.de]

2  Measures, which mainly serves the behavioural prevention

In the personal prevention (behavioural prevention) people are being addressed directly and individually. The goal is to support the individual in way that enables him to integrate preventive behaviour into his lifestyle. The personal and joint responsibility is particularly important in this context. Only by having positive self-esteem is it possible to have a responsible interaction with oneself and others.

At the same time options for action in respective contexts must be demonstrated individually and practised. Reflective skills also count to the options for action. The offers must give an impulse to self-examination into one’s own behaviour and one’s own perception. A further goal in the primary prevention is to give help for self-help. By way of example, this happens in the institutional primary prevention through cooperation.

Communicatively interactive campaigns with differential intensity of possibility for communication.

2.1  Media campaigns

Development and set-up of prevention spots in underground railways around the time of big events like the CSD (Pride) and the gay and lesbian street fair

Temporary set-ups of displays with information material, condoms and lube in “cruising areas”

Development and target group specific distribution of material about special topics.

Party drugs (substance flyers about safer use, safer sex and interaction with HIV medication)

Fetish folding cards

2.2  Campaigns in areas in which talk is difficult, impossible, or not wanted (loud parties or theme parties in places for sex (naked, etc., ref. “Safety4Free”))

Distribution campaign – several venues in one evening; duration: max. 20 min., example: monthly tours in bars and places for sex in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Schöneberg, Prenzlauer Berg/Mitte

Eye-catching campaigns predominantly with reminder character (“Blow the Strongman” at the Hustlaball, CSD truck) und limited possibility to talk

2.3  Places in which longer talks are hardly possible (parties without the ability to retreat, overcrowded events)

Mobile campaign – several venues in one evening; duration: up to 1 hour

2.4  Places with the possibility for more elaborate campaigns and prevention counselling

Stationary campaigns, example: presence in saunas, parties featuring a lounge or bar area Information spots in “cruising areas”

2.5. Man-To-Man

On-site presence in community neighbourhoods with the possibility of individual prevention counselling.

3  Measures that primarily serves the situational prevention

A behavioural prevention can only take place in connection with a situational prevention. It is required as people’s individual behaviour is always influenced by their living conditions. The reduction in social and environmental discrimination of MSM and the advancement of the community and emancipation of gay men are likewise at the centre of our work as well as the creation of an environment, which serves the enduring protective behaviour by MSM with emphasis on epidemiologic important contact situations (situations with high risk of infection).

3.1  Safety4Free

Development and implementation of safer settings: Cooperation agreements with owners of venues with the possibility for sex on-site Supervising the hosts during implementation meetings with the participating venues education of bar staff

Supplying the venues with information material and a list of references, which is placed on the counter and provides the bar staff the possibility to refer to the help system in Berlin regarding various issues

3.2  DARKANGEL

A project to empower men who have decided to practice safer sex as a matter of principle, creation of an internet community with this circle of people, establishing a brand for safer sex (185.000 participants so far)

supervision of internet platforms,

club on gayromeo

Media partnership with “du + ich”

Recruitment and supervision of sponsors and regular donors (gayromeo)

3.3  Health support

Participation in the DAH (Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe) project “Heath Support” on the chat portal “gayromeo.com”

Qualification of volunteers for the online prevention counselling

Take-over of online presence by volunteers

Direction and supervision of the volunteers

Quality control

Expansion of the health support at our initiative on “gayroyal.com” and in the “Siegessäule Community”

3.4  Referral competence

Referring to the Berlin help system in the on-site campaign, real as well as virtual

Mediation of the referral competence to the proponents (volunteers, bar staff, hosts)

Referring to the Internet page www.manCheck.eu

3.5  Cooperation, networking

Locally with the help system, LABAS, the media, individuals, and neighbouring areas

Implementation of the campaigns “ich weiss was ich tu” (“I know what I’m doing”) in Berlin, cooperation at every event (CSD, the gay/lesbian street fair, Folsom, Easter party…)

Nationally with the Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (participation at concept meetings, for instance for “ich weiss was ich tu”, development days regarding “Party drugs and safer sex”, annual meeting “Prevention where”, SP5 (prevention projects in Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and manCheck Berlin))

3.6  Education of proponents

For volunteers, bar staff, hosts, co-workers from other institutions (Lambda, Gefis, The senior group from the Schwulenberatung)

4  Not clearly classifiable

4.1  Peer involvement

Education of volunteers, management of volunteers, personnel development for volunteers (management of further educational programmes)

The volunteer weekend

Participating planning of campaign sites, methods, and dates

4.2  Concept for the difficult to reach (migrants, socially disadvantaged, men who have sex with men without identifying as gay, johns without identifying as being johns)

Development of own concepts

Participation in the “PAKOMI” project by the Deutschen AIDS-Hilfe and the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin

4.3  Quality control

Participation in measures for quality control by the Deutschen AIDS-Hilfe and the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin

5  Numbers 2009

Form of on-site activity
	2009
Street work	172
Events	218
Various	23
Total	413
Target group
	2009
Proponents	4337
Gay 7 bisexual men	28430
Various	1
Total	32768
Variety of contact
	2009
Counselling	3166
Information chats	24364
Chat number	27530

---

[1] Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (Ed.): Strukturelle Prävention, DAH-Forum, Band XXXIII.