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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 .
World AIDS Day was one of the most impacting days of my life. I had the opportunity to help organize our World AIDS Day program at Benedict College. This was not just your ordinary program, but it was a change for me to learn more about HIV/AIDS how it is affecting our culture. Francenia Hopkins was our guest speaks, she told her story about her living with HIV for more than 15 years. Her story was so powerful to me and many other students, which it challenged students to go and tested for HIV/AIDS. After this event more 85 students went to get tested. Students participated in this event and even grabbed some of their friends and get tested.
This was a powerful event, however World AIDS Day is not just for one day, but it must be remembered everyday. Because we have to educate others about this disease and how it is infecting our society. Covering our ears, eyes and mouth is killing our young generation. We must stop this disease. We must also take the time to encourage those who are infected by this disease. We must not forget about them. Let's love them and empower them as well. Overall, this World AIDS Day was so impacting.
I can also recall when I attended the HIV/AIDS Community Discussion in Columbia, South Carolina. During this event many HIV/AIDS victims stood and told their personal stories on living with HIV/AIDS. Their stories and harsh treatment was enough to make one tear. I could not believe the hurt, pain and agony that these individuals feel, but they stood for what is right and we must also stand for what is right by educating other about HIV/AIDS in America.
Whenever you have a chance please log on to the White House website and key in HIV/AIDS Community Discussion: Columbia, SC. Watch this video and tell me what you thought about this community discussion. You will see two members from Advocates for Youth tell their story and sharing their heart for HIV/AIDS in our local communities.
On Tuesday, October 6 member of Sister Act went to CA Johnson Preparatory Academy to discuss “Healthy Relationship and STI Prevention.” During this session we engaged in a dialogue with 55 young ladies showing them what a healthy relationship, look like and how you know if you are in a healthy or unhealthy relationship, and what to do if you are in an unhealthy relationship. This session was an hour long session, which gave us time to ask and answer any question or concerns these young ladies had in regards to HIV/ AIDS, STIs and information on Healthy or Unhealthy Relationships.
During my session with the RHA’s I was about to share with them how and why we need to protect ourselves. I also shared with them about the availability of condoms on campus and where they can go to receive more condoms for their students. I also shared with them why it is important to wear the right size when using the condom and why you have to use it correctly each time. During the session I asked and answer questions about HIV/ AIDS and some statistics that I learned about South Carolina and their rating for STIs and HIV.
After this session I stayed and answered any questions or concerns that RHA’s had and I had them show me what they learned from me during this session by demonstrating how to put on a condom properly. Many students were able to show me what they learned.
Being My Sister's Keeper was a Sister Act bonding Retreat that was held on October 3 and 4, 2009. This event was a time where we as members of Sister Act had a chance to bond with each other and find out what made us unique as young women. Our trainer was Ms. Trina Scott, Advisor of Young Women of Color. Ms. Scott interacted with us by showing us the proper usage of condoms and about some statistics about AIDS, HIV and other STIs that are affecting young women of color.
Ms. Scott's session was an all day event, which gave us as members of Sister Act a chance to ask question and really interact with each other. During the evening, we had a bonfire facilitated by Ms. Katrina Pitts, advisor for Sister Act where we were about to share our story and the difference experiences and challenges we faced as young women. We encouraged and embraced each other and we shared difficult events conquered during our lives. It was truly a time of bonding and releasing something that we dealt with for so long. At the end of our camp fire experience, we all wrote down issues and other things that we wanted to release and let go of.
After we wrote down our issues we all burned them in the fire as a symbol of letting go of hurts. Ms. Scott led us into a song by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans "Count on Me." At the end of this retreat we as the members of Sister Act created a bond that will never die because we had a chance to learn and empower each other and this is something that cannot be duplicated.
