What is SWEAT Up To?

SWEAT was formed in September 1994 as a result of research by Shane Petzer and Ilse Pauw. Based on a harm reduction model, SWEAT seeks to decrease the incidence of HIV infection and STDs amongst the sex working population of Cape Town through advocacy, education, counselling and support. In order to deal with HIV and health issues, SWEAT deals with a range of social issues affecting sex workers inability to access mainstream services in the region.

With an accessible centre, SWEAT provides a range of services to sex workers. These include:

• Support and Counselling
• Crisis Intervention
• Referral service to outside resources.
• Effective condom distribution to sex workers on the streets in city parlours, agencies and stripper/sex clubs.
• On site safer sex education -- HIV and STD workshops.
• Monthly newsletter.
• Easy to read pictorial/written guides to safer sex for sex workers and their clients.
• Information line and telephonic counselling.
• Nightly outreach by peer fieldworkers and professional support staff.