http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/453829
Now it is my turn to speak. As a young person concerned about the world, I need to share a message of hope. I believe the cure for HIV AIDS is love. This love is expressed ultimately in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that religious communities (especially Christians, myself included) have often distorted the message that God intended us to bring to all people.

I believe that truth will set us free. The truth that brings freedom: nothing can separate us from God's love. There is no condemnation for those who are with Jesus Christ. God doesn't care if you dress in drag or choose condoms as your form of HIV-protection. But God does care about you. He wants to know you and send his love to you. He wants to heal your heart and set you free from addiction, poverty, and suffering.

God wants to give all of us a life of meaning and purpose. This is the hope for the universe: God is with us. The cure to HIV AIDS does not lie in drugs, economics, politics, or the wisdom of humanity. The cure is within us. The cure is love.

Love must lead us to action. Each of us is responsible to act on behalf of human beings affected by HIV AIDS. We must respond with compassion and care for those infected. We must fight injustice, poverty and stigma. We are the youth, and we are the future. It's time for universal action now!]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:43:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/453829 -33.9166667 18.4166667-33.916666718.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/451619
G: Hi Morillio
M: Hello!

G: What is a youth hub?
M: Well, a youth hub is actually like having a small international AIDS conference with young people away from the conference. We plan to share and discuss knowledge from the conference with young people in Suriname. We will use sessions through web casting and involve young people in discussions about the issues. We’re using the living room at the Family Planning Association of Suriname called St. Lobi. We’re turning their lobby into an interactive space.

G: Who are these young people?
M: They are all organised youth working in the area of HIV and AIDS. We really want discussions to be engaging and to contribute to their work in the area.

G: That sounds exciting - how are you promoting the youth hub?
M: We have promoted it through mass media. There was a big media launch last Monday and we’ve been using television and newspapers. It’s now a big thing in Suriname, everyone knows about it. I’ve been going to sessions to pick up information that is relevant to our national programme.

G: So you’ve been busy!
M: Yeah! I’ve been preparing presentations. I’ve been busy. The people back home have also been really busy – we’ve been emailing everyday to organise the hub. It’s a group of 10 people working on this project.

G: So this is an intervention as opposed to a one-off information event?
M: It is! We want it to be useful and I’m putting into action some of the skills and information from the sessions at the youth pre-conference.

G: Do you have a lot of support for the youth hub in Suriname?
M: We are happy to have the support of the National AIDS Programme of Suriname. A lot of big companies in Suriname support us. A big telecommunication company called Telesur are setting up a stage for us in downtown Suriname to profile the opening of the youth hub. The biggest bank in Suriname DSB are sponsoring logistical things such as pens and maps. The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs are supportive with resources (refreshments, technical assistance). We also have support from individuals who are giving us things like a couch to use for a few days. There is also a lawyer’s office supporting us with some funding and technical assistance with financial coordination.

G: How can we learn about the outcome of your initiative?
M: There will be a report sent to all focal points at the National AIDS Programme in Suriname, UNAIDS, and the Global Youth Association. We would like to take it global! On Friday, we are doing some outreach downtown in Suriname – there’ll be drama, music, information – to raise the profile of HIV in Suriname. There’ll be incentives like t-shirts and folders.

G: Are you happy to share your email with other young people who may be interested in setting up a youth hub one day?
M: Yeah, we really want to make a difference and share our knowledge and experience with other young people so that at the next conference when young people don’t have the funds to go to the conference, they have a means of being internationally involved within their own countries. My email address is wmorillio@hotmail.com

G: Thanks for sharing!
M: You’re welcome!]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:17:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/451619 51.5 -0.116666751.5-0.1166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/450291 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:33:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/450291 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449903 Youth Journalist - Mexico Youth Force

Ban Ki-Moon (UN Secretary General), Felipe Calderon (Mexican President) Bill Clinton (former US President), Margaret Chan (WHO), Dr. Pedro Cahn (IAS President), Peter Piot (UNAIDS), Stephen Lewis (AIDS-Free World, former UN Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa), Thoraya Obaid (UNFPA)…this conference has involved several world leaders. All spoke about the importance of addressing HIV issues; all mentioned that this is a collective effort.

A session entitled ‘Reclaiming our Lives: Developing accountability for positive (PLHIV) leadership and our advocacy priorities’ focussed on meaningful positive leadership to address HIV. Presenters demonstrated that positive leadership can happen at different levels and in different ways. Some people bring HIV positive together to influence policy in countries where no structures to do so existed. Others are using innovative research methods, such as picture maps, to encourage people living with HIV to express their needs and aspirations, which are in turn used as advocacy tools to lobby policymakers. Some people living with HIV are on the board of trustees of organisations and/or speak at conferences to ensure that the specific needs of HIV positive people are recognised and acted upon. What was clear from the discussion about positive leadership is that it is not easy to be a leader who represents other peoples’ voices in the community. A participant in the audience stated ‘Really, [networks representing us] listen to our voices. If you don’t have a story to tell, if you don’t hear us, you don’t represent us’. Representation involves accountability to the people you are representing and to the issues they are raising.

Giovanny Romero Infante from the Movimiento Homosexual de Lima, a Peruvian gay activist living with HIV’ provided me with a definition of ‘positive leadership’ from a young person’s perspective. He powerfully stated,

‘Positive leadership is the capacity that HIV positive youth have to talk about their own experiences, to represent the needs of other youth, including LGBT, and to take action using evidence of what is really happening’.

What a responsibility and a privilege!]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:23:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449903 51.5 -0.116666751.5-0.1166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449455
The first photograph was of a wooden table. The caption read, "my father's table." The second picture was of a clock. The caption read, "my father's clock." The third picture was of a refrigerator. The caption read, "my father's refrigerator." At the bottom of these photographs I found a simple statement, "missing my dad."

I stood in front of these photographs stunned. It took no effort to understand the full meaning of these images and words.The essence of this child was captured in art like the aroma of a potion captured in a glass bottle. Seeing those images released the emotion and an ongoing narrative of an individual profoundly affected by HIV and AIDS.

In those precious moments, I understood more about HIV and AIDS than I did in four full days of plenary sessions, satellite meetings, skill building workshops, seminars, and symposiums. There is power in art and narrative. Participants in this International AIDS Conference may be overwhelmed with statistics, bar graphs, and powerpoint presentations that numb our minds with numbers and paralyze our brains with complexity. To resist compassion fatigue, I encourage you to take a moment to listen to the voices of individuals sharing their stories and their vast wisdom in art.

Amidst the human congestion of 25,000 participants within an atmosphere of raw energy, blasting music, and a thousand activities hoping to steal a second of your attention, I encourage you to

pause.

Interact with art and the people that created it. Hopefully, like me, you'll learn something new. ]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:06:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449455 41.8500000 -87.650000041.8500000-87.6500000 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449279 Youth Journalist – Mexico YouthForce.

Mexico City, Mexico. While visiting Global Village the UN Secretary visited the Youth Pavillion to say hi to young people. This was the only booth he visited at the Global Village, and it was an honor to have him among us.

Ban Ki-Moon said to the youth adelgates “You are the leaders of this generation, the leaders of our world”, and he also encourage young poeple to continue working for young people affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. For young people living with HIV he said “Do not loose your hope, you will overcome this challenge”.

Joya Banerjee form the Mexico YouthForce said “even though he didn’t make a specific commitment to youth he has a lot of potential to make change on this issue for youth people, and it was great that he made a step here” .

The subcommite of the Youth Pavillion gave him and his wife a T-shirt with the messages of advocacy created for the Conference, as a present for visiting the Youth Pavillion.
]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:08:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449279 12.1508333 -86.268333312.1508333-86.2683333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449277 Youth Journalist – Mexico YouthForce.

Ciudad de México, México. Mientras el Secretario General de las Naciones unidad hacia su recorrido de visita por la Aldea Global realizó una parada por el Pabellón de jóvenes para conversar brindar un mensaje a los jóvenes presentes. Cabe mencionar que fue la única parada en la Aldea Global, por lo que fue un honor tenerlo en el lugar.

Ban Ki-Moon dijo a los jóvenes presentes “Ustedes son los líderes de esta generación, los líderes del mundo”, así mismo motivo a la juventud continuar su trabajo a favor de las personas afectadas e infectadas por el VIH. A los jóvenes con VIH el dijo “No pierdan las esperanzas, superarán este reto”.

El Subcomité del Pabellón de jóvenes le entregó a él y su esposa una camiseta (playera) con los mensajes de abogacía elaborados para la conferencia, como un presente por haber visitado el Pabellón.

Joya Banerjee de la Fuerza JovenMexico dijo “A pesar que no hizo ningún compromiso específico, tiene un enorme potencial para hacer el cambio en el tema para la juventud, fue grandioso que hiciera una visita aquí”.
]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:04:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449277 12.1508333 -86.268333312.1508333-86.2683333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449657 Youth Journalist – Mexico Youth Force

I will never forget the Latin American spirit at this International AIDS Conference. From the moment I arrived at the conference (and even before…at the airport, at Hotel Palace, at the youth pre-conference), I felt welcomed by other Latin American youth. Communication for me was not a problem even though I didn’t speak Spanish and some of the Latin American youth didn’t speak English – somehow we managed and we managed it well.

The Latin American spirit was most apparent to me in the skills-building sessions at the Mexico Youth Force pre-conference. I hesitate if asked to participate in activities or discussions unless I’m completely sure what I’m getting myself into. This was certainly not the case at the pre-conference where there were endless volunteers to join in group work and to share personal experiences and express well thought-out perspectives on complex issues such as gender, sexuality and identity.

Similarly at the ‘1st International March Against Stigma, Discrimination and Homophobia’, the Latin American youth enthusiastically led us in very loud chants, such as ‘Alerta, Alerta, Alerta, que camina la juventud unida por America Latina’ (which translates to something like ‘Listen up, Listen up, Listen up, we are representing the united youth of Latin America’. Another important chant was ‘No hay libertad politica si no hay libertad sexual’ (‘There’s not political liberty if there’s not sexual liberty’).

I’ve certainly been fired up by the Latin American activists that I’ve met and I hope we are all approaching the conference with the vibrant Latin American spirit that I have found so inspiring and uplifting!]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:25:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/449657 51.5 -0.116666751.5-0.1166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/448843 Youth Journalist - Mexico YouthForce

Ciudad de México, México. Eliminar el requisito a los laboratorios para la elaboración de drogas antiretrovirales alternativas para tratar el VIH y tener una política de acceso gratuito a todo el tratamiento para las personas que lo necesiten en México, fueron los compromisos asumidos y anunciados por el presidente de México, Félipe Calderón en la inauguración de la XVII Conferencia Internacional sobre el sida (AIDS2008).

México se ha convertido en la sede de la sesión científica sobre VIH más importante del mundo, la cual se realizada por primera vez en Latinoamérica y donde unos 23 mil participantes han asistido, entre científicos, activistas, miembros de la sociedad civil y actores claves en la inversión en el tema, para abordar durante 5 días el avance en las investigaciones sobre VIH

“Podemos y debemos hacerlo mejor” reiteradamente mencionó Pedro Canh, presidente de la Sociedad Internacional del sida en México, refiriéndose al tema principal de la conferencia:“!Acción universal ya!”. Con esta conferencia no sólo se busca tener documentación relevante y científica, sino que cada delegado pueda actuar y movilizar en sus países la prevención y atención ante el VIH, para la niñez, las mujeres y todos en general… con eso habremos obtenido logros con la conferencia, expresó Cahn.

Peter Piot, Director del Programa adjunto de las Naciones Unidas para el VIH (ONUSIDA) agregó que se debe combinar la prevención con el acceso al tratamiento como una respuesta ante el VIH y así mismo se debe buscar cómo reducir nuevas infecciones por el virus en el mundo.

AIDS 2008, es un espacio donde se compartirán unos 700 abstractos sobre VIH, sesiones de creación de capacidades, exposiciones, investigaciones y actividades adjuntas sobre VIH en el mundo.

La anterior conferencia fue realizada en Toronto 2006 y la próxima en Viena 2010. Se espera tener un impacto en el cumplimiento de la meta del milenio referente al VIH y sida.

Sesiones de la conferencia estarán siendo transmitidas en vivo a través de la página web www.aids2006.org/es donde además diariamente se estarán realizando actualizaciones de las sesiones sostenidas.






]]> Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:37:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/448843 12.1508333 -86.268333312.1508333-86.2683333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/447637 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:36:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/447637 -33.9166667 18.4166667-33.916666718.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/448837 Youth Journalist - Mexico YouthForce

Ciudad de México, México. Con el objetivo de proveer información científica y de construir capacidades en el contexto político, científico, económico y social sobre VIH, unos 300 jóvenes de diferentes partes alrededor del mundo se han reunido en la Ciudad de México en la Pre- Conferencia de Jóvenes sobre VIH y sida.

La Pre- Conferencia es una actividad de dos días y medio, realizada en el marco de la XVII Conferencia Internacional del SIDA (AIDS 2008), donde se busca empoderar a la juventud, a través de información, cabildeo y construcción de relaciones para que puedan estar preparados como intercesores de otros jóvenes en la Conferencia AIDS 2008.

FuerzaJoven México es la organización juvenil que organiza la pre- conferencia, donde se discutirán temas como el financiamientos para la juventud, jóvenes con VIH, educación equitativa para el liderazgo juvenil, el uso de medios para informar sobre VIH, entre otros. La mayoría de los ponentes fueron seleccionados de los mismos participantes, quienes aplicaron con sus experiencias de trabajo y son expertos en la prevención del VIH, trabajo de joven a joven, así como activistas líderes de sus comunidades.

Aleza Summit Coordinadora del Equipo de la Pre Conferencia de la FuerzaJoven México, considera este espacio “un lugar para que jóvenes de todo el mundo puedan realizar abogacía en el tema de VIH, movilizar la visión de la juventud, la verdadera participación de jóvenes genera el reconocimiento que somos recursos en la búsqueda de soluciones para la respuesta global al VIH.”.

Así mismo Enrique Pérez de Nicaragua, participante en la Pre-Conferencia considera que este “es un espacio para obtener herramientas que fortalezcan el trabajo de incidencia de jóvenes, para buscar cómo implementar o adecuar experiencias de otros países a la realidad de donde cada uno vive”.

Pedro Cahn, Presidente de la Sociedad Internacional del sida (IAS) en México felicitó a los jóvenes por tomar parte de este espacio tan importante donde jóvenes de todo el mundo unen sus esfuerzos para ser escuchados. Por su parte, Nils Kastberg Director Regional de UNICEF mencionó que la prevención de VIH debe ser promovida y realizada por los mismos jóvenes y este es un espacio que promueve la participación de la juventud.

Finalizada la Pre-Conferencia los jóvenes tendrán presencia en la conferencia principal con actividades de abogacía, se contará con el Pabellón de Jóvenes en la Aldea Global, se estará publicando noticias en la página web para mantener informados a quienes no pudieron asistir y también se pondrá una mesa de compromisos para personas las adultas. En AIDS 2006 (realizada en Toronto Canada) personajes como Peter Piot, Director de ONUSIDA, Bill y Melinda Gates realizaron compromisos para con la juventud.

Esta es la primera vez que la Conferencia Internacional del sida se realizada en un país latinoamericano y México espera unas 25 mil participantes en AIDS 2008, la cual dará inicio este 3 de agosto.


INFORMACION ADICIONAL
La Fuerza Joven México, es una continuación de las previas Fuerzas Jóvenes en las Conferencias Internacionales en Toronto, Bangkok y Barcelona; es una coalición organizaciones lidereadas por jóvenes así como con servicios de VIH y Sida para jóvenes quienes están trabajando para empoderar a jóvenes delegados y promover la participación juvenil en torno al VIH y Sida antes, durante y después de la XVII Conferencia Internacional en la Ciudad de México.
Desde la Conferencia Internacional sobre el SIDA realizada en Barcelona en el año 2000, la Fuerza Joven ha sido ampliamente reconocida como fundamental en el mantenimiento de las cuestiones de la juventud, a la vanguardia de la agenda internacional sobre el VIH / SIDA.
www.youthaids2008.org/es



]]> Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:33:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/448837 12.1508333 -86.268333312.1508333-86.2683333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/444715
Around 300 young people from all over the world are together for the Youth Pre Conference (PC) in Mexico City, which started this thurday 31st at the Tlatelolco Center (National Mexican University) and will end in agust 2nd.

The pre-conference consist of informative and skills-building workshops around HIV/AIDS issues, ranging from scientific knowledge to effective political advocacy.

( the picture From left to right- Ahn Vu, Enrique Pérez)


Here are some young people expectations about the PC:

Anh Vu Tuan- Vietnam – 22 yrs old.

“I hope to learn how to use the mass media programs, how to build skills and knowledge of young people in another countries, differents of Vietnam, with another culture, to know how do they do”

Murillo Williams- Suriname, 20 yrs old

I see the pre -conference as a knowlegde center to be prepared to the main conference, and gather with young people to have a voice at the main cconference, a space to share and compare our experiences concerning HIV to the whole world.
AIDS 2008.

Enrique Pérez – 20 años- Nicaragua

“Obtener herramientas para fortalecer el trabajo de incidencia de jóvenes cuando regrese a mi país, tratar de desarrollar nuevas habilidades a través de la información de buenas prácticas de otros jóvenes de diferentes regiones, para buscar cómo implementar o adecuar esas experiencias a la realidad de donde vivo”

]]> Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:45:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/444715 12.1508333 -86.268333312.1508333-86.2683333 http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/442173 21th july

While the bus was entering the city of Campinas a big city of Sao Paulo, was thinking it would be a great experience to paddle around the city and Lou, my friend also proposed me to join with her to take a ride. So it was all set, we went out of the home in the morning to grab the nice paved road of Campinas. Decorous neighborhood and gentle traffic accompanied us all though. It was bit troublesome for me to ride in the right hand side of the road as we ride in the left so I had to calculate every turn we took. Another cyclist joined with us to lead us the whole circuit. Its obvious they have passion of cycling and they use it as a means of transport. Now we are three and following each other though I was in the last and was not as fast as like them. I was eyeing on everything as it is new for me. The traffic, the road, the signs, the tress, the pedestrians! After quite a while we have started heading towards east and it was against the burning sun. Less humidity and very dry air remained me the thin air on altitude. It was 800 meter above the sea and around the geographical highest point of Bangladesh – Kewkradong of Chittagong Hills.

Flowing two faster cyclists towards a long slope was tiring as I have never seen such a big slope in anywhere where I have ride so far. Its hard to find any road in Bangladesh that I had to negotiate with the gradient. So I became slower and striving.

After the first slope found a vast empty horizon in the front and some condo minas in the right hand side of the road. I came to know these are for very rich peoples and it was showing also the same with the architecture, style and security system. Brazil is having the biggest gap between rich and poor peoples around the world and its vibrates.

We took turn in the right again and followed a high way to the south. It was humongous down slope to fly, so we did. Nicely paved road energized us to feel the speed. Its like getting into the road that touching the horizon and we are flinging. It was the best part of the ride to memories.

After another turn we started following the flock of small cars which leading us to the local university named “UniCamp” (University of Campinas).
]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:04:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/myfjournalist/post/442173