Teenage peer educators teach youth about HIV and AIDS
World Vision’s health and HIV and AIDS programme supported the peer educators to arrange different activities throughout Georgia to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic.
“For me this day means that people who are not infected and do not suffer from this disease, show how they care and remember others who do. For me it means a lot,” said 29-year-old Natia, who is HIV-positive.
“It was the first year when all of the activities were planned and accomplished by our peer educators. They managed to attract many youth and hold very interesting events commemorating World AIDS Day,” said Tiko Suladze World Vision Public Health/HIV and AIDS Programme Officer.
Events such as informational meetings and movie presentations held in schools ran from November 28 in Ninotsminda in southwest Georgia through till December 3 in Bolnisi, east Georgia.
The key messages that peer educators tried to communicate included ‘Stop AIDS’, ‘Be tolerant’ and ‘AIDS is not transmitted via friendship’.
“This is my school and I am very happy that today I am holding this informational campaign here. We can see that most of the pupils came to our event and are active,” said peer educator, 16-year-old Irakli. Irakli is one of six peer educators in the Samtskhe Javakheti region. He has volunteered in this role for two years and has proven his ability to independently organise events.
“I did not have much information about this disease – just that it is a threat to our health. I think after these seminars I will have a lot of information on this issue”, said 15-year-old Kate.
A theatre performance for Kutaisi youth in west Georgia, attracted many students in Kutaisi State University who were given the opportunity to draw their ideas about issues around HIV and AIDS.
World Vision is the first organisation to begin informational campaigns in rural areas of Georgia and aims to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections through community information meetings, peer education activities for youth, and additional training for community health personnel and mass media representatives.
Despite ongoing efforts by governments, organisations and charities worldwide to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, an estimated 2.7 million people become infected each year, and an estimated 33 million are currently living with HIV and AIDS.
Some 1,822 people were registered as HIV-positive in 2007 in Georgia according to the Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre.
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“For me this day means that people who are not infected and do not suffer from this disease, show how they care and remember others who do. For me it means a lot,” said 29-year-old Natia, who is HIV-positive.
“It was the first year when all of the activities were planned and accomplished by our peer educators. They managed to attract many youth and hold very interesting events commemorating World AIDS Day,” said Tiko Suladze World Vision Public Health/HIV and AIDS Programme Officer.
Events such as informational meetings and movie presentations held in schools ran from November 28 in Ninotsminda in southwest Georgia through till December 3 in Bolnisi, east Georgia.
The key messages that peer educators tried to communicate included ‘Stop AIDS’, ‘Be tolerant’ and ‘AIDS is not transmitted via friendship’.
“This is my school and I am very happy that today I am holding this informational campaign here. We can see that most of the pupils came to our event and are active,” said peer educator, 16-year-old Irakli. Irakli is one of six peer educators in the Samtskhe Javakheti region. He has volunteered in this role for two years and has proven his ability to independently organise events.
“I did not have much information about this disease – just that it is a threat to our health. I think after these seminars I will have a lot of information on this issue”, said 15-year-old Kate.
A theatre performance for Kutaisi youth in west Georgia, attracted many students in Kutaisi State University who were given the opportunity to draw their ideas about issues around HIV and AIDS.
World Vision is the first organisation to begin informational campaigns in rural areas of Georgia and aims to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections through community information meetings, peer education activities for youth, and additional training for community health personnel and mass media representatives.
Despite ongoing efforts by governments, organisations and charities worldwide to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, an estimated 2.7 million people become infected each year, and an estimated 33 million are currently living with HIV and AIDS.
Some 1,822 people were registered as HIV-positive in 2007 in Georgia according to the Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre.
-Ends-
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