Deep Griha has two main missions: to help children and families in slum communities and to do outreach about HIV/AIDS. When I was planning my trip, I thought that I would only work with the kids. I didn’t know much about HIV/AIDS and I felt somewhat uncomfortable discussing it.
After I had been in India for about ten days, the volunteer coordinator Kassie (an American, future phd in infectious disease) asked if I would give half the Wake Up Pune presentation the following Sunday. I didn’t know what she was talking about.
Wake Up Pune is closely tied to Deep Griha and does HIV awareness in English for university students and corporate groups in Pune. The group does “bootcamps” for volunteers at least once a month to inform people about HIV. The first half of the session is scientific and the second half relates to cultural perceptions and combatting stigma. Because the subject of HIV, drugs, sex, and disease are very taboo in India, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about HIV. The goals of the bootcamp are to provide accurate information and to make people feel comfortable talking about the issues.
Wake Up Pune has an “HIV Positive” campaign that encourages people to be positive about the future of people living with HIV and positive about HIV awareness, support, and education.
The bootcamp went well! I’d certainly never talked about any of this in front of a group before. Definitely an interesting subject to talk about in India. People got into a really interesting debate about HIV and social perceptions of AIDS. Now I want to do another one! As long as I don’t have to do the demonstration. Here’s the powerpoint we use.
After I had been in India for about ten days, the volunteer coordinator Kassie (an American, future phd in infectious disease) asked if I would give half the Wake Up Pune presentation the following Sunday. I didn’t know what she was talking about.
Wake Up Pune is closely tied to Deep Griha and does HIV awareness in English for university students and corporate groups in Pune. The group does “bootcamps” for volunteers at least once a month to inform people about HIV. The first half of the session is scientific and the second half relates to cultural perceptions and combatting stigma. Because the subject of HIV, drugs, sex, and disease are very taboo in India, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about HIV. The goals of the bootcamp are to provide accurate information and to make people feel comfortable talking about the issues.
Wake Up Pune has an “HIV Positive” campaign that encourages people to be positive about the future of people living with HIV and positive about HIV awareness, support, and education.
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| Shirish, me, Chaarvi, Prateek, Rohit, Kassie, Parisa, and Indrajit Global Aids Week of Action Candlelight Vigil |
The bootcamp went well! I’d certainly never talked about any of this in front of a group before. Definitely an interesting subject to talk about in India. People got into a really interesting debate about HIV and social perceptions of AIDS. Now I want to do another one! As long as I don’t have to do the demonstration. Here’s the powerpoint we use.
Wow, that's a provocative Powerpoint for India. Is the same Powerpoint used in the university and corporate presentations? If so, what reaction does it receive.
ReplyDeleteMikethePike
Ooops, should be a question mark after "receive."
ReplyDeleteIn the university and corporate settings, we receive good feedback about the presentation. Usually the administration or management has invited us because they feel it is important that their students or employees are educated.
ReplyDeleteThere is little to no sex education in India so this is often the first time people are hearing the information. At first, people tend to be quiet and not want to talk. But once people get talking (particularly about stigma), they open up a lot. With the science as background, the social perceptions of HIV generate a lot of discussion.
Thanks for the question!