Brazil: Marking World AIDS Day
In commemoration of World AIDS Day 2011, an AIDSLink Brazil team drove over four hours, through the heavy Sao Paulo traffic to give an AIDS awareness workshop at a centre for the rehabilitation of drug users and sex-workers.
It was very timely, the previous day health workers had tested everyone there for HIV. Amazingly all tested negative. The information and stories the team shared were designed to help them stay that way.
One of the residents told us how much she appreciated getting correct information and being able to ask questions. She thought that because she had had surgery to prevent having anymore children she was no longer at risk of contracting HIV. Others questions ranged from basic information such as if it is safe to drink from the same cup as someone with HIV to more complex questions about treatment and the life-span of someone living with HIV.
A real turning point in the workshop was when one of the team told his story about living with HIV, how he got his HIV+ diagnosis, the effect on his life, and how his faith has helped him to turn his situation around into a positive lifestyle.
The latest statistics show that in spite of the government's pro-active response to HIV, every day, in the city of Sao Paulo, nine people die and a further six give up on treatment.
There remains much for the team to do.
How to Become a Channel of Hope in Seven Not so Easy Days
By Debbie Meroff
"My prayer is that this training will affect all of our hearts--breaking them, healing them” and that it will equip our hearts, heads and hands to become channels of hope."
The words were from one of the four excellent trainers at AIDSLink's first-ever European facilitators' training, being held in the beautiful Forterocca training facility near Turin in Italy from 25 October to 1 November. What Robert said made a deep impression on the 13 of us who had gathered from five continents. Our knowledge of HIV and AIDS ranged from the most basic level to many years of experience, but this course was forcing all of us to take a hard look at our faith along with the facts.
Hilke, a student in Germany, made and sold jewellery to raise the money to attend. She plans to use the training when she goes into missions, possibly in South Africa.
Peter, the UK Director of ACET (AIDS Care Education & Training), came because he wanted to learn how others are addressing the problems of stigma, and how they are engaging with the church in a strategic way.
Chris and Lorraine, who work in Eastern Europe were anxious to see how they could incorporate HIV and AIDS awareness along with the drugs education they do.--Transmission by injection is skyrocketing in parts of Europe.
My own goal was to get better equipped to communicate the truth about the pandemic and to be more proactive in raising awareness, both in writing and speaking. Although Europeans like to believe that it isn't a major problem on the Continent, more and more thousands are being infected by the virus, and a huge percentage of them are marginalised.
The sessions ran from 7:15 to early evening, allowing only occasional glimpses of the stunning Italian Alps surrounding our conference facility. We had a new language to learn with words like CD4 count, viral load, MSMs and opportunistic infections. And we had to practice ways to be effective educators using role play, group interaction, quizzes to challenge right and wrong perceptions.
I loved every intensive hour of it. I was humbled, awakened, shaken and thrilled to realise that even the least of God's followers has something of infinite value to offer the 33 million who are infected with AIDS--and the hundreds of millions more who are affected. The sad thing was that only 13 of us took advantage of this AIDSLink training, when there should have been 300. Do yourself a favour. Don't miss out next time around.
Being a Channel of Hope - Costa Rica Training
"I have started to love God and I have started to trust people again" said Juan*, who shared his story on living with HIV at the recent Channels of Hope training in Costa Rica.
From May 2-8, AIDSLink International, gave its first Channels of Hope HIV and AIDS facilitators' training in Spanish. Nineteen people from various Latin American countries attended.
Most participants had some basic information on HIV and the desire to make a difference, however all were challenged in their worldview and attitudes. "I was unaware of some prejudiced attitudes in my heart" said Maria "this training has bought them to light and has enabled me to work through them."
"Thank you for putting this together" said Pilar "I am leaving with a deeper desire to make a difference, our plan is to work with the younger generation, youth and children."
After a session on strategic planning, the participants came to the overall conclusion that there was a lack of information and an overall ignorance on HIV and AIDS. All left committed to give workshops in their local communities; to form strategic partnerships with other organizations working with those living with HIV and AIDS; and to do practical acts of service.
"I would love to hear more 'Juan type stories'" said Julie Paniagua, AIDSLink Latin America representative, "all of you have rebuilt his trust throughout this week and he has responded in loving God again, now let's go and do the same in our own communities."
*name changed
The Loss of Glory
Western Europe: The bitterly cold winds from Siberia chilled us to the bone as we gathered to pay respects to Glory.
She was one of our friends from Nigeria, she worked as a sex worker. Glory died of tuberculosis, which developed as a result of the end stage of AIDS.
Who would "claim" her body? Who would pay for the funeral?No family around, only the pastor and a few friends from a local church were there to comfort Glory's colleagues who were in deep mourning.
Glory's was a "poor girls" funeral - just three small flowers on a cheap wooden box. No wreaths, no bouquets, nopicture, no speech, just two simple songs; "Amazing Grace" and "Blessed Assurance".
A famous singer was recently buried with great pomp and circumstance in the same graveyard!The contrasts are too much to comprehend!
Weeping with those who weep and mourning with those who mourn....