With all the conferences and meetings and gatherings we go to, I thought it would be good to leave a few tips on how to effectively network during these events. I hope you find this useful.

1. Remind yourself you your organization and its priorities
2. Identify your needs
3. Identify groups or individuals who are either aligned with your organization's priorities, or able to help fill your needs
4. Identify new areas for expansion, and the people who can make it happen
5. Make contact early, and make the contact memorable. Show interest in their organization, what they do, and how you can work together.
6. Don't only give them your business card/contact information. Take theirs as well.
7. After you leave the conferencce (meeting gathering etc), send them a message reminding them of who you are, and saying it was a pleasure meeting them. You may also include that you look forward to working with them in the future on whichever initiatives.
8. Don't let them forget you. Message them once in a while with relevant updates on your organization that you think would interest them.

Happy advocating, and happy networking! :)

Just a quick observation...

So whenever the topic of sex comes up with people who dont really know me, and it becomes a point of information/conversation that I'm a virgin, the first response is ALWAYS: "Oh, you're a Christian?"

Yes, Christians believe that sex before marriage is wrong, so most remain virgins till marriage, but why is it always the first assumption?

Can't it just be that the person WANTS to remain a virgin?

It got me thinking on what kind of messages are being sent out. Yes, I'm all for comprehensive Sex-Ed. Yes I promote it. Yes, I even advocate for it. But I still wonder what kind of abstinence sensitization messages are being sent out. Not only to say that abstinence is still an option, but to say you dont have to be a Christian, lesbian, gay, or freak to remain a virgin. That its just as "ok" to be a virgin.

Just a thought.

Over the period of November 18-21, the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference, under the theme "Strengthening Evidence to Achieve Sustainable Action", will be held in Nassau, Bahamas. It aims to sharpen the focus on HIV in the Caribbean, which has the second highest HIV prevalence rate amongst adults. The conference is expected to present findings on new scientific research studies along with different methods of carrying out various techniques and should also aid in skill-building while creating many networking opportunities for meeting new passionate individuals who share the same zeal and ideals towards HIV related events.
The abstract shown below shows one of the abstracts chosen from Jamaica that will be presented at the Conference.

TITLE: HIV PREVENTION THROUGH PERFORMING ARTS IN RURUAL JAMAICA

Introduction
Youth Advocacy Movement (YAM) Jamaica is a group of young people who work in the field of HIV prevention through peer sensitization and community intervention. YAM utilizes drama, song and dance as major methods of disseminating information on healthy social and sexual living. The need for education and sensitization is great as results of the 2008 KABP showed that 61.5% of males and 16.8% of females between the ages of 15-49 reported having multiple sex partners within the last 12 months, but only 64.5% of males and 52.1% claimed they used a condom in their last sexual encounter. This paper will inform attendees on various audiences present in Jamaican communities (such as the domino players, shop keepers, hairdressers, and conservative vs outgoing females), and ideal methods of targeting them. It will also teach attendees how to utilize performing arts as an effective means of relationship building, community sensitization, and social behavioural change in communities.

Experience
While working with YAM, members were trained in advocacy through drama to spread messages about safe sex, HIV testing, having a single sex partner, gender based violence, and drug abuse through song, dance, and drama. They were also taught about the various social sub-groups in various communities, and the best ways and places to target them.

Good Practices
This medium enabled YAM members to discuss the causes of the various risky sexual behaviours and sexuality issues with individuals who refused to come to community centres and clinics. Barriers to sexual health, including condom accessibility and use, and condom negotiation skills were included in performances for follow-up visits to the community. Feedback showed that individuals were now more aware of the responsibility they have for their sexual health, and were now better able to protect themselves, especially following the condom-negotiation drama pieces.

Recommendations
Performing arts was a widely accepted and effective tool of disseminating information in the communities. Individuals who were initially reluctant to speak about sexual health issues were more willing to watch the drama pieces, and listen to the songs, and were more open in asking questions after the performances. Using performing arts is an effective strategy in prevention interventions and social behavioural change initiatives, and is adaptable for use in other communities.

When it comes to education and jobs, it's always been said "All some people need is an OPPORTUNITY to go to school" or "They just want the OPPORTUNITY to get to work".

This week, I found out that many young people just want the OPPORTUNITY to keep sexually aware, the OPPORTUNITY to access information, the OPPORTUNITY to get HIV testing, and the OPPORTUNITY to access condoms without fear or discrimination.

Safer Sex Week on UTECH campus really reminded me of that, and i figured I'd share that experience with you.

The first time i really realised this was Feb 4. The first health fair was on, with free HIV testing; among other tests and health opportunities. I worked with the HIV testing department, and in doing so, went on a major promotion mission; walking around campus telling people about the free blood pressure, blood sugar, and HIV testing opportunities. It was interesting to note that majority were more interested in the HIV testing, and confessed that as soon as I said HIV testing, i had their attention, as it was something they wanted to do, but didn't know where, or couldnt afford it. Once they knew  they had that OPPORTUNITY, they seized it.

Both Thursday and Friday of the week, free HIV testing was provided on campus again, and for both days, the testing bus was full, with lines running all over the park.

Finally, young people want access to condoms without fear of being ridiculed, scandalized, or looked down on. Starting last friday, I went on a condom distribution mission. I didnt go around asking people if they wanted condoms. I simply had on my shirt that promotes condom use, and had a bag with "CONDOM" written on it. Oddly enough, people CAME to me asking if i really had condoms, and if i could give them some. Many of them took the opportunity to ask me questions pertaining to their sexual health etc, and it was good to know that at the end of the discussion, they said they felt comfortable being able to discuss those matters. Needless to say, they came back during the week...

But really, all we did was give young people the OPPORTUNITY to live a healthy life, and they took it... cuz really, thats all they want... the Opportunity.

So this week, Feb 7-14 is considered Safer Sex Week in Jamaica, and as usual, i tried to rally support for more jamaican bloggers on amplify..

The theme this year is "Protect your love... Use a glove".
On publicizing the theme, i received varied responses; however many  individuals had one similar question: "what about those who are abstaining? why isn't there anything for them too? Not EVERYONE'S doing it! "

Food for thought:
Why is it that there isn't really anything geared towards abstaining teens? Or why isn't there a "Comprehensive Sex Ed week"?

Yes, HIV Awareness and safe sex are habits that we want to instill, but abstinence and conscious sexually healthy lives are also habits we want to promote. Why are the scales tipped to one side?

*Just a thought*

Since Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was first diagnosed, it has created quite a name for itself. To date, HIV and its partner in crime AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, has killed millions and in many countries, it is referred to as one of the top killers targeting the 15-25 age group. For many years, hearing that you are HIV positive has caused tremendous grief to families worldwide and has been a death sentence to many. Whether it be through unprotected/reckless sex, errors in blood transfusions, sharing of needles or a new born being infected by his/her mother, the results are the same; HIV is a killer disease that spares no one.

Science has done its best searching for clues on how to beat this disease. Various anti-retroviral drugs have allowed people to manage the disease and lead relatively normal healthy lives. These drugs may be costly, but it spares sufferers the immense pain and heartache brought along by the disease. While these retro-virals served their purpose, they were no cure. They required patients to follow a strict regimen of popping pills daily knowing their life and health depended on it.

Future patients can now, however, look to the future with hope. In an article taken from http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/12/man-officially-cured-of-hiv/ retrieved on December 15, 2010 by Brian Barret entitled Man Officially Cured of HIV, a 42 year old man by the name of Timothy Ray Brown, has carved his name in history as the first and only man to be cured of HIV AIDS. Ironically enough, it was not the AIDS virus that most concerned Mr. Brown when he went to Germany's Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin hospital. He went for treatment regarding an equally life threatening condition, cancer. The article over-viewed the extensive procedures Mr. Brown had to go through. First chemotherapy that wiped out most of his immune system followed by Total Body Irradiation and finally a deadly stem cell transplant that approximately 1 in 3 patients do not survive. None the less, three years after his horrendous procedures, Mr. Brown, having taken no anti-retroviral drugs, showed no signs of the virus. He was cured.

The stem cell donor the Doctors used played a role in his miraculous treatment. It was noted in the article that the donor had a rare genetic mutation that made him almost immune to the HIV virus. Thus, as Mr. Brown's immune system was wiped clean by his therapy, the healthy HIV-resistant cells from his donor repopulated his body and well, the results speaks for themselves. While HIV patients might not willingly wish to go through such a risky procedure, it opens the door of opportunity and hope by placing a simple statement, placing a simple yet powerful fact into the pages of history. HIV can be cured. Mr. Brown is a living breathing reminder of this hope. As Doctors and scientists work to develop a less risky form of treatment, HIV victims around the world can look to the future with even more hope, that one day, they will not only be able to manage the disease, but they can be free of it.

(Not SRHR, but still a youth representation piece.. I think I'm just ranting thought... but...)

So in an earlier blog I wrote, I was ranting about the government's response to a group of young people who tried to make some suggestions to the government, but who they wouldn't listen to.  Now, 8 months later, the same taxation issue has come up, and the same group of young people are, once again, trying to get the government to listen to them...

The story is that the government has decided to (again) raise tax, to 17.5%! What one writer calls a devastating tax plan. Not only to raise it, but to leave off basic food necesities off the tax exemption list. Which means rice, flour and sugar are all taxed. And, get this females... Sanitary napkins and tampons are taxed too... 17.5%...  Not even the disabled are spared, Prime Minister Bruce Golding last week announced that canes for the blind, artificial limbs, hearing aids and crutches designed for use by the handicapped are some of the items that would no longer be exempted from taxation.

When I saw the news tonight, i felt dejavu... the youth are saying they need to see the  tax plan revoked, or altered for the better before its implementation date of January 1, 2010. Their slogan is "It Must Be Reversed Before The First". And I agree.... It needs to be.. what will poor people do? Already barely can afford food, and they raising the price. And the rich people not having a problem..

Now, the Prime Minister says he has "heard the peoples' cry" as reported in the Jamaica observer and Gleaner and he says

"I have heard the cry and the appeal of the Jamaican people." "It is my intention to re-examine the existing composition of the tax package in order to determine if there are suitable alternatives to finding the $21-...billion of revenue required to support the programme negotiated with the IMF, while at the same time reducing the harsh impact on the society, especially the poor and vulnerable, during these very difficult times."

This entry is a part of our World AIDS Day Blogathon.  During this week we share our experiences, stories, and ideas about how HIV affects young people around the world. Join the blogathon .

So World AIDS Day and AIDS Awareness Week has come and gone. On my campus, and in my community, a group of us a young people accomplished a whole lot, but for some reason, it's only the negatives that replay in my mind. It's like, we do so much as advocates and workers, but there's always so much to do... So, my blog, i think, is probably just me talking the incidents that made me realise how much more we have to do..




Incident #1 occurred the day before World Aids Day; the day the AIDS Awareness Club at my college did a decorating project, decorating the school and gates with red and red bows. During this exercise, 90% of all who saw us asked us why we're decorating the place, and why red ribbons. Quite a few even asked if we were trying to "chase duppy"... Which speaks to how uninformed many people still are, and how oblivious they are to something that has been going on for years on end. What does that mean for us? does it mean that we have to start preaching "World AIDS Day" all through the year? Does it mean that we have to start using mediums like general assemble and hall meetings to address HIV/AIDS Awareness? What now?

More...

So,

YES, i know i'm a bit late, but i only heard about the Kiss-In yesterday, and it brought back to memory a link a friend posted on his Fb profile. The article  which was entitled "Kissing Men Walk Free" spoke about a duo who was taken to the police station for questioning, because they were caught "making out" in their parked car.

What do you think?

Do you think the  police handled the situation appropriately?

What do you think about the quoted section of the Offences against the Person Act?

Should they be charged for "gross indecency"?

Just a little thing to stimulate the mind and get you talking.

Feel free to comment with responses to these questions, or opinions of your own.

(the following is by Rocky, one of our youth activists in Jamaica)

The first time I heard about sustainability was in High School, when we were talking about types of governments and economies and resources. The essence of sustainability is that a population is able to use the available resources to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

When I heard the theme for International Youth Day 2009, the theme for a camp I attended earlier in the summer ran through my mind: "Action Time - Nuh Linga!" in essence, there's something to do, and we have to do it now.

The whole issue of sustainability, in my eyes, is a bit in the reverse, because the level of sustainability of one era is not dependent on how that set of people use their resources, but is dependent on how the people before them did; meaning that for the most part, we have minimum control over our sustainability. (NOTE: everything said after this point is my opinion, even though I won't be repeating "in my eyes" or "my view" much.).  The sustainability of the economy people live in can be likened to a family heirloom. (e.g. a plate). Currently, we as the youth have little control over what happens to that plate. It is in the care of our parents, so they have to take care of it, and preserve it so we can get it. The condition of the plate (whether it is still new or it is chipped and scratched) is dependent on what our parents did with it. When we do get it, it is up to us to care for it until we give it to the next generation. Sustainability is like this. If the current adult generation does not take care of the assets and resources we have, then our generation will have nothing to work with, and even though sustainability may be attainable for them, it will be difficult for our generation. In the same way, when we conserve and protect and preserve and all that, the benefits for us will be like 20% of the work we put in, while we will be significantly improving life for the generation after ours.

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