HIVaids Youth Workshop- VAST

Our week of preperation went off, not without a hitch, but we did it! Eight condom outfits were created. Space was donated, taken away, donated by another organization, taken away and given back again. Mattresses were donated, undonated and then donated again. Everything threatened to fall apart. But we did it!

All 40 youth arrived, on time, to the Cruz Roja by 9:00 am sharp.

The first day was full of leadership activities, learning how to teach your peers and of course . . . talking about healthy sexual and reproductive lifestyles.

Preparing for the HIVaids Youth Camp/ Fashion Show

A few weeks ago, I finally received my grant money from VAST to hold an HIVaids youth camp! All $980.00 baby. That is a small fortune here in Nicaragua. After months of applications and budgets it was amazing to see that money in my account.

With the help of another volunteer, Robyn Singleton, we organized over 40 youth from the department of Jinotega in preperation for the HIVaids camp. In teams of 5 each group was responsible for making a custume out of condoms. You heard me right, condoms. Our big event in the HIVaids youth camp would be a huge Condom Fashion Show!

SO . . . why did we decide to have a Condom Fashion Show? Well, to prevent HIVaids.

Whenever I teach my youth about condoms they actually freak out. No one wants to touch them, no one will look directly at the condom, especially if it is out of the wrapper. No way José. Anyway, the idea of the fashion show is to remove stigma, taboo and general shame over condoms by creating outfits out of them. Get rid of the idea of sex.

Check ou the pictures. I would say the concept worked pretty well.

PEPFAR- HIVaids workshop

This week we finally put on our northern regional HIVaids PEPFAR workshop. As the point person, I am glad to say WE ARE DONE! 

We spent months putting together presentations. I spent months organizing. A big part of my heart and soul went into this project. Thank you to everyone who participated. We did good. 

Every participant was given a bag with our logo. Inside we gave out condoms, dildos, pamphlets and instructions on how to give a condom demonstration. We are changing the face of HIV in Nicaragua.

Speakers from ASONVIHSIDA, an organization of individuals who are HIV+, spoke and gave their testimonials. 

Nicaraguan counterparts who have never worked in HIVaids got up infront of the entire workshop to present their thoughts on discrimination and stigma and how these influence HIV rates. 

We even had an all male youth group from Esteli come. For an evening activity they produced and performed a play on HIV stigma in a typical Nicaraguan community. 

That´s what I want!

Shout out to Jenny Tighe- I have haircut envy! Someday I will have the balls to do it too. For now, I guess I will just go with a simple bob.