Marta McBritton is an educator and cultural producer. She is a graduate of the Colégio Horácio Bento and the Teatro Escola Macunaíma. Marta is President of the NGO Instituto Cultural Barong, whose mission since 1995 has been the promotion of programs aimed at the prevention of STD/Aids, fund raising, raising awareness and facilitation of safe sex in Brazil, in particular with the lower income population.
Marta has developed projects with the support of the Health Ministry and the National STD/Aids Program as well as with the São Paulo state and city STD/Aids Programs. She is a representative member of the São Paulo State Forum of Aids NGOs and is part of the National Damage Reduction Network. Marta is currently developing projects with the Brazilian Network for promoting information about emergency contraception, prevention of unwanted pregnancy and STD/Aids.
Instituto Cultural Barong (Barong Cultural Institute) has a history in which creativity and innovation have been a constant factor in its purpose to attain a unique way of approaching reproductive health. Barong was founded in 1996 as an “NGO in the streets” and was a pioneer in the concept of “itinerant social marketing”. Using a van as a front-line station, on which a 5m high inflated condom is mounted, Barong makes its multidisciplinary team - comprising psychologists, sexologists, art educators and health workers - available to the people. The Barong team offers counselling, refers cases to health services and answers questions about sexuality, always with sensitivity and humor.
Since its establishment, Barong has been supported and recognised by the National Aids Coordination, the São Paulo State Aids Program and the Municipal Aids Coordination. In 2002, the Institute won First Place in the Sustainable Actions in HIV/Aids Award from the Ministry of Health. In 2004, Barong won the first Brazil Health Aids Social Responsibility Award.
