Genesis Initiative Group

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2007-05-08T05:07:00.001-07:00

Hildiko!

HIV - How did it start?

2007-04-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

Hey AIESEC
During the learning Event of AIESEC Delhi University a lot of Questions came up, as to how did the virus actually start and there was no definate answer to it.Also please do let me know if there is anything apart from these theories that you may know of!!!
Hope you guys can also come up with certain inputs to spread awareness about the same!

there are a lot of theories on how it actually came about. It was orginally known as SIV which is Simian Immunodeficiency Virus which is found in chimpanzees and collared Mangabeys( pre-dominantly).

So how did humans get it?
through my research i got this information:

It is now generally accepted that HIV is a descendant of a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus because certain strains of SIVs bear a very close resemblance to HIV-1 and HIV-2, the two types of HIV.HIV-2 for example corresponds to SIVsm, a strain of the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus found in the sooty mangabey (also known as the green monkey), which is indigenous to western Africa.The more virulent, pandemic strain of HIV, namely HIV-1, was until recently more difficult to place. Until 1999, the closest counterpart that had been identified was SIVcpz, the SIV found in chimpanzees. However, this virus still had certain significant differences from HIV.

In February 1999 a group of researchers from the University of Alabama1 announced that they had found a type of SIVcpz that was almost identical to HIV-1. This particular strain was identified in a frozen sample taken from a captive member of the sub-group of chimpanzees known as Pan troglodytes troglodytes (P. t. troglodytes), which were once common in west-central Africa.The researchers (led by Paul Sharp of Nottingham University and Beatrice Hahn of the University of Alabama) made the discovery during the course of a 10-year long study into the origins of the virus. They claimed that this sample proved that chimpanzees were the source of HIV-1, and that the virus had at some point crossed species from chimps to humans.Their final findings were published two years later in Nature magazine2. In this article, they concluded that wild chimps had been infected simultaneously with two different simian immunodeficiency viruses which had "viral sex" to form a third virus that could be passed on to other chimps and, more significantly, was capable of infecting humans and causing AIDS.These two different viruses were traced back to a SIV that infected red-capped mangabeys and one found in greater spot-nosed monkeys. They believe that the hybridisation took place inside chimps that had become infected with both strains of SIV after they hunted and killed the two smaller species of monkey.

Which raises the question- How did the crossover form animal to Human take place??

It has been known for a long time that certain viruses can pass between species. Indeed, the very fact that chimpanzees obtained SIV from two other species of ape shows just how easily this crossover can occur. As animals ourselves, we are just as susceptible. When a viral transfer between animals and humans takes place, it is known as zoonosis.Below are the most common theories about how this 'zoonosis' took place, and how SIV became HIV in humans:

The Hunter Theory:
The most commonly accepted theory is that of the 'hunter'. In this scenario, SIVcpz was transferred to humans as a result of chimps being killed and eaten or their blood getting into cuts or wounds on the hunter. Normally the hunter's body would have fought off SIV, but on a few occasions it adapted itself within its new human host and become HIV-1. The fact that there were several different early strains of HIV, each with a slightly different genetic make-up (the most common of which was HIV-1 group M), would support this theory: every time it passed from a chimpanzee to a man, it would have developed in a slightly different way within his body, and thus produced a slightly different strain.
An article published in The Lancet in 20043, also shows how retroviral transfer from primates to hunters is still occurring even today. In a sample of 1099 individuals in Cameroon , they discovered to ten (1%) were infected with SFV (Simian Foamy Virus), an illness which, like SIV, was previously thought only to infect primates. All these infections were believed to have been acquired through the butchering and consumption of monkey and ape meat. Discoveries such as this have led to calls for an outright ban on bushmeat hunting to prevent simian viruses being passed to humans.

The Colonialism Theory:
The colonialism or 'Heart of Darkness' theory, is one of the more recent theories to have entered into the debate. It is again based on the basic 'hunter' premise, but more thoroughly explains how this original infection could have led to an epidemic. It was first proposed in 2000 by Jim Moore, an American specialist in primate behaviour, who published his findings in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.6
During the late 19th and early 20th century, much of Africa was ruled by colonial forces. In areas such as French Equatorial Africa and the Belgian Congo, colonial rule was particularly harsh and many Africans were forced into labour camps where sanitation was poor, food was scare and physical demands were extreme. These factors alone would have been sufficient to create poor health in anyone, so SIV could easily have infiltrated the labour force and taken advantage of their weakened immune systems to become HIV. A stray and perhaps sick chimpanzee with SIV would have made a welcome extra source of food for the workers.
Moore also believes that many of the labourers would have been inoculated with unsterile needles against diseases such as smallpox (to keep them alive and working), and that many of the camps actively employed prostitutes to keep the workers happy, creating numerous possibilities for onward transmission. A large number of labourers would have died before they even developed the first symptoms of AIDS, and those that did get sick would not have stood out as any different in an already disease-ridden population. Even if they had been identified, all evidence (including medical records) that the camps existed was destroyed to cover up the fact that a staggering 50% of the local population were wiped out there.
One final factor Moore uses to support his theory, is the fact that the labour camps were set up around the time that HIV was first believed to have passed into humans - the early part of the 20th century.

Hope this info helped...in case of any more questions , please feel free to discuss it!

Hugs
Anica
VP DT ICX @ Delhi University India

Early days of HIV/AIDS

2006-11-26T01:20:00.000-08:00

I read a book this week that made me wonder how it was in the early days when HIV was discovered: a new ailment whose cause, mode of transimission and how to prevent it could not be understood. It is a fictional account that runs for a decade from the late 70s. It relates the life of a young doctor whose vision is to provide for the city and country good and cheap access to STD/STI care, and he specialises as a venerologist. It covers the time when such treatable STDs as Gonorhea were the bane of the amorous, to social lifes and the impact of economic of peoples sexuality and the advent of HIV/AIDS. I will dedicate an entire posting to this so that I can give excerpts from the book.

I took some time to try found out a bit of information on what is published concerning 'The Early Days of HIV/AIDS' and I will share a few and give links (in blue) to where you can get greater details:

In their own words

NIH Researchers Recall the Early Years of AIDS

Site has stories and video clips on: First encounters, Tip of the iceberg ,Mobilizing ,Discovery of HIV and Search of treatments. It makes very interesting and informative reading.

Readers remember the early years of AIDS

Those touched by the virus share memories of the struggle and the stigma

MSNBC
Updated: 3:02 p.m. ET June 5, 2006

Behind every AIDS death is a story. Behind each statistic is a person who is loved, who was someone's brother, mother, father, sister, aunt, uncle, friend, grandparent or lover.

On the 25th anniversary of AIDS, readers share their memories. Some have survived being HIV positive for decades and recall the fear born of ignorance by those around them.

Others are left to remember those who died, from young men taken by a disease then called GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency) to a 58-year-old grandmother who died following heart surgery, to a daughter wondering what life might have been like if her father had lived to see her into adulthood.

To read more visit here.

The early days of AIDS: A congressman remembers

What is your first memory of the AIDS epidemic?

In 1981 we were battling the Reagan budget, which called for deep cuts in public health programs, medical services, a lot of domestic programs. And then we started hearing from the Centers for Disease Control about a rare form of cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma. And that it seemed to be affecting gay men in a couple of cities. But the alarming part of it was that it seemed to be spreading very, very fast. I was quite shocked at it, because it looked like it was going to multiply geometrically. This was before we even knew the word "AIDS." It was very perplexing.

25 years with AIDS

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP)—It began quietly, when a statistical anomaly pointed to a mysterious syndrome that attacked the immune systems of gay men in California. No one imagined 25 years ago that AIDS would become the deadliest epidemic in history. Since June 5, 1981 (ironically this is my birthday!), HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has killed more than 25 million people, infected 40 million others and left a legacy of unspeakable loss, hardship, fear and despair.

Its spread was hastened by ignorance, prejudice, denial and the freedoms of the sexual revolution. Along the way from oddity to pandemic, AIDS changed they way people live and love.

Slowed but unchecked, the epidemic's relentless march has established footholds in the world's most populous countries. Advances in medicine and prevention that have made the disease manageable in the developed world haven't reach the rest.

The power of positive living

2006-11-14T21:03:00.001-08:00

There is no doubt that the HIV/AIDS scourge has devastating effect on the people infected, their families and the society at large.

However, being infected does not signal the end of life; or the end to living; or the end of ones existence. Even when positive, one can live an extremely productive life. Here I will highlight two such individuals:

Ron -

November 3, 2006 will mark seven years since being diagnosed – four days before my forty-first birthday – some gift, huh?

When I was told I had AIDS then about PML (Progressive Multi-focal Leucoencephalopathy), my T-cells were ten (yep 1-0) and my viral load was 500,000+ and given the bleak prognosis of dying in three to six months.

Obviously, I didn’t, but as my strength improved, my T-cells rose nearing 200 and VL dropped to maybe 15,000 by May 2000, I was removed from hospice because I was no longer considered a terminal case. BUT, I was reminded that 200 was the highest level I would maintain and my viral load (VL) 5,000 to 10,000 during the two (yep 2) years I could expect to live by all these “experts” that I traveled to or my sister e-mailed.

Well, I have surpassed my so-called expects to mark my seventh year with my T-cells at an all time high of 653 and my VL remains undetectable (has been undetectable since July 2001! Five years!)

I gave up on myself at the very beginning – my sister made me promise to fight in February 2000, and over time, I just did it all for myself. Exercise, therapies and diet – all probably helped me and the fact I never had any horrible side effects from the medications is key for me. I have been on Trizivir and Viramune for four years and with no ill-effects thankfully. I am very, very grateful.

I have now had seven more years and have learned so much more and think I have grown as a human being. I have accomplished things that I was told were impossible and re-discovered many hidden talents out of necessity, not a “re-birth.” I just had to re-prioritize my life and use imagination to accomplish things again.

Hell, here I am!

To read more of Ron's blog, visit here.

Asunta -

Asunpta shares her life through a weekly letter in one of the leading national newspapers in Kenya where she talks about bringing up her son as a single parent, the challenges of being HIV positive and on stigma and discrimination. She was diagnosed in 1989 at the age of 22 years. She is a founder of KENWA- Kenya Network of Women with AIDS which has given hope to a lot of disadvataged women who due to their status and/or gennder are discriminated.

You can read her story here.

Below is her sharing in her diary in November 2006:

To hire and fire

(The workplace is a crazy place at the best of times, more so for someone with HIV.)

I once read somewhere that a boss is like a nappy; he's always on your bottom! I recently shared this remark with my colleagues during an office meeting. The remark may be a tongue-in-cheek expression, but it sure captured the moos of the moment. Well, some of the junior staff members had raised the complaints about how they were too many bosses in the office and hardly a leader in sight. And even as I threw that boss remark, it somehow boomeranged.

My position as the executive director demands that I take stern action and at times such action is misunderstood as being high-handed and cruel although it is usually in our best interests.

"I lose sleep whenever I have to tell somebody that he or she can no longer work with us,” I told my staff members, but I could see that some of them didn't swallow what I was saying. “That’s why after some time you find that I have recalled that person," I added.

It was after that meeting that we agreed to have staff retreats, during which we could loosen our button, forget our job descriptions and do some bonding. In many organisations, a good percentage of employees are people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs). You’re not wrong to call me biased, but my bias is for those who’ve been prejudiced against and are finding the going hard in the job market. So, in a sense, my bias is for a good cause.

I know now that the only way to understand my employees and for them to know where I'm coming from is through retreats. Then, I want then to see me simply as Asuh, not Asunta Wagura, ED. I want them to see me as a friend they can trust with their issues.

Sometimes it gets crazy in the office. Imagine there quarters of the people at work going through those HIV-related stresses and still having to handle clients who come in with their own issues. To say the least, it requires the balancing skills of a trapeze artist. We smile even though we are seething inside.

I think the best thing for us is that we can work in an environment that’s devoid of prejudice against PLWHAs. And so when someone’s in the firing line, it's not because of his or her HIV status.

I know there are many PLWHAs heading institutions but, for reasons best known to themselves, they prefer to live in the closet. With all due respect, it's my theory that an HIV-positive leader is in a much better position to understand the challenges of an HIV-positive employee. And at such a time as this, when jobs are hard to find, it's crazy for anyone to live with Damocles’ sword hanging over their head just because they're HIV-positive and a routine test is more than enough to render on jobless.

On any given day, I receive countless application letters form PLWHAs, but I can handle only so much. I'm not saying that PLWHAs deserve special attention. Far from it. What that frightened PLWHA up for promotion or on redundancy row deserves is fairness because, as someone once remarked, fairness is what justice is all about.

(This is the diary of Asunta Wagura, a single mother one who tested HIV-positive 19 years ago. She is also the Executive Director of the Kenya Network of Women with AIDS (KENWA)

Introducing myself and the HIV/AIDS Drive Team

2006-11-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

Dear all, My name is Ildi, the Global HIV/AIDS Learning Network IG leader! This year I have the honour to coordinate all HIV/AIDS related activities in the global network of AIESEC and also to work with a brilliant Drive Team - Alex, Jasmine and Riza.

In my first posting I would like to share my experience at the National Conference of AIESEC in the Netherlands. I got to be invited to be the chair of the HIV/AIDS track in Utrecht and it was a lot of fun, and a real success. When I arrived at the Central Station of Utrecht, a very nice guy was waiting for me from the National Support Team of the Dutch AIESEC. When we arrived at the venue, a special atmosphere was waiting for us. All people in business suits, networking in the hall, video recording in the plenary room – everything was extremely professional. Before we started the session, we were dancing on some AIESEC dances though :) (of course) and then people were allocated to different rooms. In our room there were around 40 delegates plus the 4 guests and Eliene (the main organiser) and me. We started with an introduction about the state of HIV/AIDS now and what the global AIESEC network currently does about it, followed by workshops run by the four guests. The topics (statements) were extremely fascinating and all the delegates enjoyed the discussions as well: Development and poverty reduction programs are essential to combating HIV/AIDS in the long run; The industrial world has failed to deliver leadership and moreover has failed to save the lives of millions of people; Save lives of today, or save lives of tomorrow? After the workshops we had a very interesting panel discussion as well. As a moderator I was leading the discussion of the 4 guests and I think they challenged each other tremendously. What I enjoyed very much as well was the lunch that I spent among the delegates. Suddenly I got to see Vija, trainee of ABN Amro who was MC in AIESEC in Belgium and whom I wanted to motivate to become my successor in AIESEC in South Africa. :) I also met up with Ali, Egyptian trainee and Jennifer from Canada who was a CEEDer in South Africa and whom I lived with for 3 weeks, in the AIESEC House in Johannesburg. Also, I finally met the Hungarian trainee of Rotterdam (Szilvasi Orsi – Solyi) who was an EB member in AIESEC in Hungary when I was on the MC and we used to work together very closely. :) We were so happy to see each other again. And also, I got the chance to talk to some of the Ebs of the Dutch AIESEC and it was really cool! They said they didn’t know how an AI person looked like because they hadn’t seen any before, but they were happy to find out through interactions with me that AI members are very nice and friendly people, not weird ones somewhere up in the clouds. :)

Stay tuned until the next posting!

SCOURGE WITH HIV/AIDS AMONG US

2006-08-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Some twenty-two years ago, the first cases of a mysterious illness that destroyed the body's natural defences against infection were reported in the United States. Since then, the spread of the HumanImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become a global health emergency. But in the sub-saharan Africa,the world's poorest and least developed region, where HIV/AIDS has gone from emergency to tragedy-endangering not just the lives of its victims, but the social, economic and political fabric of society.

The numbers alone are crushing. At the end of 2003 it was estimated that two thirds of the 40 million people living with the virus were African. Some 3 million of the 5 million new infections in 2003 also occureed in Africa, where infection rates are seven times the world average. In some countries, as much as 40 percent of the total population carries HIV. In a region where nearly half of the population lives on less than $1 per day, barely 1 in 100 people in need of lifesaving antiretroviral drugs can afford them. For the rest there is only the certyainty of slow death.

From the "3 X 5" campaign, to provide ARVs and other medications to 3 million people living with AIDS in developing countries by the ende of 2005 to the now "universal access" initiative campaign which was launched in January 2006, we can see that little or no achievement has been done. It should be noted that HIV/AIDS is an issue in our society. It is taking away the
future of most African countries. It is affecting the most productive of ages, between 15 - 45 yrs.There are major problems that is not making this HIV/AIDS go away. The pandemic is driven by"deep and persistent" poverty, food Insecurity, Indebtedness, gender Inequality and stigma and discrimination.

Because of these issues, access to ARVs is often not a relity for those who are the most marginalised and in greatest need of the medicines.

POVERTY means going hungry. Hunger leads to malnutrition and a more rapid
breakdown of the Immune system.

SOCIAL STIGMA against those with the disease means that many do not get
tested in the first place.

And GENDER INEQUALITY puts burdens on women that they cannot shake off on
their own.Those burdens Include responsibility for caring for children and other family members, ensuring that limited food supplies go first to hungry children and the risk of abandonment by men when an HIV-positive status is disclosed.
Pivotal to all theseissues is the need for food, a need as urgent as the drugs themselves.It is not only that they need the food to take the medicine and that they need to eat more than they do when they were sick to get healthy, but their appetite increases.

The Lack of food or money for transport, difficult housing conditions, pervasive
stigms, the stress of believing they will die without providing for their children's care all serve to accelarate a downward spiral into despair and hinder their access to ARVs drugs, even when those drugs are free. Because women are primarily responsible for feeding their children and their families, they are most deeply affected by this inability.

(culled from AFRICA RENEWAL)

From these article above, it can be seen point blank that women as the female and weaker gender is being left with the responsibility and burden where these Virus is concerned.

As AIESECERs in our HIV/AIDS projects , how do you all out there think that some of these issues can be really minimised in order to be able to create a positive impact on rate of these Virus.

Let the passion and love keep on burning.

RE: Whats Happening?

2006-05-10T08:12:00.001-07:00

Hi All,

Bibi you are absolutely right and i must say that the idea with the blog is for us to share thoughts regarding issues around HIV/AIDS. What i have noticed is that most people are not willing to commit to discussions like this rather a different discussion that might involve certain things in life. Nevertheless, it is also important to realize that contemporary issues like Health its also important, its a part of our world and we need to share more light.

It will be great if people like you and others in this blog share at least things going on in their environment regarding this issue. Moreover the blog is also for interesting conversation from the forums regarding the LN.

We have about three articles that are critical that people did not talk about, it will be beneficial if you can tell us if any of this article relates to whatever that might be going on in your country.

Thanks a lot

Fredrick

RE: Whats Happening?

2006-05-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

What is Happening?Where is the Passion?

2006-05-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

Hello guys out there,
After a very long time of checking this blog(due to work load and atimes bad connection) am shocked to realise that barely nothing has been done by the newly inaugurated Genesis team.
This was not the vison that Trent had to make him start the Blog. Please we need more articles and more jeering talks that can buold up our passion.

Thanks Fredick for the comments, pls we will always be there to help make this blog a success. Please guys make this team a success.
Seeing you guys online more often.
Cheers

TIME TO DELIVER: XVI International AIDS Conference

2006-04-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

Twenty-five years after the first reports of AIDS, the magnitude of the epidemic demands increased accountability on the part of all stakeholders. With this in mind, the Conference theme of Time to Deliver emphasizes that -- while research to expand and improve our understanding of HIV is ongoing -- the scientific knowledge and tools to prevent new infections and prolong life already exist.

Join us in Toronto to help make this happen

TIME TO DELIVER: Toronto Canada 13 - 18 August 2006

From 13th - 18th August 2006, you can be part of the world's premier gathering of stakeholders involved in the global response to HIV/AIDS. The fee is only 200USD.

Lend your voice to the growing movement of concerned people around the world who believe that the time for promises is long gone - it's now Time to Deliver!

* Read more about the Conference,registration process and fees, Theme, Programme, and two new Focus Areas, at http://www.aids2006.org/start.aspx

AIDS response: Spread Love not HIV

2005-10-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

It is obvious in our society today that there has been a sea-change in the global AIDS response since 2001. Global funding has increased from roughly US$ 2.1 billion to an estimated US$ 6.1 billion in 2004, and access to key prevention and care services has improved markedly (UNAIDS, 2004). The number of secondary-school students receiving AIDS education has nearly tripled, the annual number of voluntary counseling and testing clients has doubled if not more than double, the number of women offered services to prevent mother-to-child transmission has increased by 70%, and the number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy has increased by 56% in most countries and parts of the world.

HIV prevalence in most part of the world is no more news; everyone is trying to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic with all effort possible. What as not changed though, is the stable HIV prevalence which means more or less equal numbers of people are being newly infected with HIV and are dying of AIDS and beneath this apparent constancy of steady prevalence lie’s devastating realities. With the enormous efforts of everyone trying fight this pandemic, the fact and the prevailing wisdom is that a lot of people prefer to spread the virus. With these realities in our society, we have decided to hear your opinion about the spread of HIV/AIDS. The questions and discussion for the next two weeks is as follow;
if I am HIV+ and I know it, but I keep having unsafe sex just to spread the virus, should I go to jail? (Should I even have sex either safe or unsafe with positive or non-positive people?)

Join the discussion in the forum (How far is HIV/AIDS from me?) with just one click:

http://www.aiesec.net/members/clubs/globallearningnetworks/lnhivaidsig/forums/message-view?message_id=32523075

IG Moderator 05/06

Human Rights, Women and HIV/AIDS

2005-09-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hey People,

The Learning Network was launched at IC 2005 in India. It was a great time for all of us because we are able to interact with the externals one on one and also have the opportunity to meet the people involved and driving the change. It is important that we continue with the discussion and are able to invoke our learning from this network. If you guys have trainees or people that are experts on the topics and issues that will be discussed, please do not hesitate to get their input so that it can better facilitate our understanding in this network.

Before the LN launch, the issue we were discussing was trying to relate HIV/AIDS to poverty, vulnerability or gender issue. I noticed we did not discussed this issue extensively so the next topic will revolve around this issue..

"Human Rights, Women and HIV/AIDS" is the next topic we will explore for the couple of weeks and hopefully we will be able to get valuable inputs from you all.

According to Bibi's input "People are trying to survive by doing what it takes to survive and try to be somebody in life" which encourages them to do anything that will make them succeed in life without concerns for the results of their actions.

Personally, i will like to relate the idea's expressed by Bibi to Human rights and women and the role they play in the society where HIV/AIDS is a major trend. According to the current WHO fact sheet "Women’s right to safe sexuality and to autonomy in all decisions relating to sexuality is respected almost nowhere." in which case their rights is most dishonorned in places where women exchange sex for survival in their way of life. This is not about prostitution but "rather a basic social and economic arrangement between the sexes which results on the one hand from poverty affecting men and women, and on the other hand, from male control over women’s lives in a context of poverty."

Consequently, most men, however poor can choose when, with whom and with what protection if any, to have sex. Most women cannot. "As such, our basic premise has to be that unless and until the scope of human rights is fully extended to economic security (ie the right not to live in abject poverty in a world of immense riches), women’s right to safe sexuality is not going to be achieved."

The question is how does this affect the society? and how will the issue of human right continue to engender the global epidemic (HIV/AIDS)?

Looking forward to your contribution

Fredrick Ikugbagbe,

IG Moderator

Genesis Crew!!!

2005-08-05T03:11:00.000-07:00

Hi there to all the Change Agents that want to make a difference in the HIV/AIDS field...

My name is Edyson David Dos Santos Gamez, shortly Dey... I am originally from Venezuela, but have been working in AIESEC in Peru, Ecuador and the Republic of Macedonia. This year I will be the AI Director for Africa GN as well as the Genesis Initiative Group Leader...

It is a pleasure for me to introduce the Genesis Crew, the people that will be managing and supporting the development of Genesis from an Initiative Group into a Learing Network (I added some lines from their applications). They are...

Fredrick Oludotun Ikugbagbe – Nigeria/US

I am an acting coordinator of the Genesis program in the US until I finish the transition and training in a month, I have learned a lot from LNs and I will love to share my experience as a Moderator to invoke the learning of others.

Jennifer Trujillo – Venezuela/Colombia (curretly trainee in Venezuela)

My traineeship is having place in ACCIÓN SOLIDARIA (ACSOL), this is a NGO which core work has two lines, one is treatment and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and the other is Prevention on this pandemic. So I’ve defined my traineeship success in some goals, one of them is establish a cooperation agreement between AIESEC Venezuela and ACSOL. So far, we have made the firsts steps having the participation of ACSOL in AIESEC Venezuela’s national conference, and having cooperation with the local comities in order to improve the labor of the NGO within the universities, as well as the creation of a volunteers team for attend joint activities with the NGO, and having public (non politic) incidence.

Ozgur Daldan - Turkey

LNs are a new trend and I see that LNs will be the future of AIESEC XP. LNs are coming really important and I want to take part of the first edition in it. I do believe that the success of this will improve and I am ready to take part of it. Also I have experiences in HIV/AIDS because this year we have a project with UNFPA which is called Youth Peer in the Universities about HIV/AIDS. So this LN is the opportunity to share my experiences and to broaden the discussions.

We invite you all to join the Genesis SubGroup under the Global Learning Networks Community in aiesec.net

The Community is a space for virtual interaction that will allow us to network and build strong initiatives that will lead to the development of Change Agents in the field of HIV/AIDS, as well as a media for supporting the physical learning environments...

Looking forward to interesting conversations, discussions and a LOT of ACTION...

AIESECly Yours,

Dey

A Nice Step

2005-07-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

People, It is a very nice thing that AI decided to move this blog on the AI web. To all my team mates, I say CONGRATULATIONS so far. But there is this thought that is bothering my mind. Where are all the passions that we used in starting the blog?

As Longman has already structured out the topics that our learnin should be based on, I will say that we sit tight and work more on it.

We have seen the Effect of Stigmatisation on HIV patients from the previous contribution, this is to the extent that the whole family was removed from the society , but more painful, a young life was lost to the disease.

How long as youth are we going to allow the disease to cut short our generation? People do let's sit up. I will be very glad to see my team mates all contributing again.

Take care

bibi

Genesis movin on over to myaiesec.net

2005-07-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

Visit http://genesis.myaiesec.net

2005-07-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

For those whom I've never met, my name is Femi Longe and I am the AIESEC International Director for Africa 04/05 till the next 3 weeks and as well the AI responsible for the Genesis Learning Network in 04/05...

I have been a contributor here for a couple of weeks now but I felt it better to stand by the sideline and follow the discussion happening...I must say, I am really impressed at this self-driven initiative which is symbolic of the kind of action and attitude we wish to see in the organisation particularly also as we make the Learning Network initiative go global...

So what has been happening from our end as far as Genesis and what more should you be looking out for…Sorry that in this posting I'll be sounding very administrative...

INITIATIVE GROUP SIGN-UP
As you may have seen, last week countries were asked to sign up for the 5 Global Learning networks launched. 13 countries signed up for the Genesis Learning Network namely Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Iceland, India, Ireland, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, Zimbabwe…AIESEC in the United States is also considering joining and should be doing this in the next couple of days…

So what's happening next???
Right now we have defined topic areas around HIV/AIDS which the Learning network will be focused on…Of course they are broad that we can have spin-off discussion happening around personal areas of interest…These topic areas are:

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS
Understanding the reality and spread of HIV/AIDS in different countries and regions of the world

Prevention of HIV/AIDS
Understanding HIV/AIDS and how it is spread
Understanding the different methods of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS
Understanding and advocating behaviour and attitude change to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS (explore cultural influences)

Socio-Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS
Stigma: Managing interactions and integration of people living with HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS Orphans: Managing the implications of a generation of orphans of HIV/AIDS
Labour Market: Managing the economic impact of HIV/AIDS on the major workforce age bracket
Working place policies and corporate strategies around HIV/AIDS

Treatment of HIV/AIDS
Understanding and care for people living with HIV/AIDS (Linked to STIGMA above)

For all the topic areas, we will be addressing them from a youth perspective at all points with clear focus on:
How this area affects youth
How youth can and should be creating change in this area

GENESIS BLOG
As part of the whole learning network strategy and AIESEC experience implementation, we are in the process of launching myaiesec.net blogs which will help in capturing learning and experience of our members.

We have begun trialing with the AI blog on ai.myaiesec.net for some weeks and we are about to kick off with the Genesis Learning Network blog on myaiesec.net too… To this end, we have had discussions over the last few weeks on the modalities of transferring the content from here to the Genesis.myaiesec.net This will be done in the next couple of days…

On the 18th we will be closing applications for Initiative Group moderators who will be part time role facilitating our virtual platform including blogs- so they will be able to add considerable capacity from there. (more info on that below). If you are interested in this positions, do not hesitate to apply...

Global I.G Moderators around each of the Initiative Groups. Each member selected for these innovative teams will be playing two critical roles in activating our Global Learning Platform.

They will be Forum Hosts; facilitating the flow of information and dialogue on our virtual platform, from blogs to forums to the web.

They will provide Strategy and Resource support for IG MCs to achieve their planned activities.

If you or someone you know would like to be part of this exciting development return this application to ArthurJ@ai.aiesec.org by July 17th 23:59 GMT and prepare for a truly unique and impacting role.

Training and support will be provided to successful candidates.

Looking forward to seeing you posting more on your thoughts and experiences on this issue which is of passion, importance and significance to us all…And looking forward to your ideas, comments and suggestions

Femi

Email from an Aiesecer from the U.S. volunteering in Tanzania:

2005-07-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

The defining moment of this program, in my eyes, happened this week. After teaching to a gathering of approximately one hundred people, in a field, under a massive tree, a village leader approached our teaching group. He informed us that the village suspected a woman had AIDS and that they wanted to get her tested. He and about ten other villagers then lead us to her home to find out more information about her condition. We were pretty shocked by the openness of the villagers on this topic. Our training and experiences up to this point told us that a huge amount of stigma existed and that Tanzanians are deathly afraid to know and share their status. We came upon a mud hut, no bigger than my bedroom in the US, amongst some cornfields. Entering inside, we met a friendly, middle aged woman. The room was partitioned into two by a mud wall and she informed us that the patient was in the other room. I was shocked by the scene in the next room- it was bare, except for a broken wooden bed frame and there was a huddled mass lying in the dirt, covered by a thin piece of cloth. Based on her voice and the tiny size of her body, I assumed she was an old woman. After more conversation with the caretaker, we learned that the patient was her daughter. When I heard “ishirini na nane,” which means 28 in Swahili, my heart sank, because this dying, crumpled mass of person was only 28 years old. We ending up learning that there were 3 smaller children (who at that time were peddling some vegetables, from the small piece of family land, in a larger village) and a father in the family, as well, all living in this tiny hut, watching their older sister waste away.

Our group was pretty torn about how to respond to this girl and her family. Unfortunately, our program only provides education and free testing, but no actual aid to those with HIV/AIDS. We’re told that our program can put people in touch with other organizations who can provide direct support, but we weren’t sure about that reality. We really wanted to give the family food, but we knew we would be leaving in 2 weeks and we wanted to help in a more permanent way. Ultimately, we decided to bring the family materials to make food the next day and arranged to test the girl two days later. We figured that if she did have AIDS (which was very likely considering her symptoms- she’d been sick since May with various opportunistic infections of the skin and mouth), our group would sponsor her ARV treatment for the rest of her life (approximately $1 per day). We delivered the food the next day, for which the mother was very thankful, and returned the following day (Thursday) to test the girl.

So late Thursday afternoon, we returned to find 25-30 villagers along the way and outside the family hut. The first two women we approached informed us that the girl had passed away earlier in the day. We had made comments in the days prior about the urgency of getting her treatment and the possibility of her body giving way at any time, but we were still a bit stunned.

As I walked by the villagers on the way to the hut, I felt powerless and ashamed. All I could do was say ‘pole,’ Swahili for sorry (regardless of the severity of the circumstance). I could see the expectation in people’s eyes, that I should have helped this girl or now would do something to rectify the situation, being the American HIV/AIDS expert. But all I could do was say my one word of Swahili. I felt ashamed, knowing that next week I would return to my carefree American life, while people like this girl wasted away in mud huts, fighting starvation and AIDS.

For the last seven weeks, we’ve all committed our HIV/AIDS curriculum to memory and preached transmission, prevention, and caring strategies to hundreds of people. But this week, the program became much more real than it was before. I’m not sure yet how I feel about what I saw- probably a mixture of anger and sadness. I know that this girl would still be alive, had she had access to American health care, or even the free antiretroviral medication that the Tanzanian government promises to AIDS patients (to the great majority of people here, it doesn’t actually follow through on this promise). I also know that our government is spending billions of dollars fighting "terrorism," while turning a blind eye to the real terror in Africa.

Life in my homestay is still terrific (smooth transition, eh?). My favorite part is hanging out with my surrogate mom while she cooks food in the back yard. Perhaps because of this, my Swahili has dramatically improved. Despite the language barrier, I can appreciate my mama’s sense of humor and she and I joke around all the time. My Babba is a great guy, too, even though he pulled a 22 caliber pistol from his pants the other night and organized his handful of bullets in some sort of clip. Don’t worry though, he informed me its only for self defense (he’s a miner of Tanzanite, an expensive gem found only in Tanzania) and showed my his permit- needless to say I found these revelations very reassuring (wink wink). Seriously though, this homestay family is awesome- I’m planning on buying them a live chicken at the market today!

This might be my last e-mail, as I leave for the US in less than a week, but thanks for reading and I’ll talk to you all soon!

Eric

LCP
Aiesec Arizona

What is happening?

2005-07-08T11:50:00.001-07:00

Hello Guys,
What is exactly happening, there has not been a recent posting or contributions on the blog for some time. Is it that we are too busy or we have lost interest and focus on the main reason why we decided to blog. Please do let us contribute.

Trent how is the exams coming up ? are u thru yet.
Sere how far with SA, what is the latest..
leslie, oohhddd, people pls talk ooooo

take care and have a nice weekend

What is happening?

2005-07-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

You CAN fit Aiesec into your job!

2005-06-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hey AIESEC!
How's everyone's summer going? Good jobs? Good times?
I just wanted to share a quick story about an experience I had at work today, and to incorporate that into the potential this new design has for our incredible organization.
This summer I'm interning at America On-line outside of Washington, D.C. (The HQ of the best LC in the nation :) ). Early last week I got a "corporate" email about a guest speaker: Ashley Judd, speaking on behalf of her organization, YouthAIDS. My first thought was, wow she's gorgeous, then my second thought was to RSVP quickly to actually find out about this international organization.
The event was this afternoon, just about an hour ago. Ashley Judd spoke about her involvement in YouthAIDS, as well as the incredible AIDS prevention programs they have set up around the world. She, just like Bono, and many other celebrities, have become global leaders in their own right and have spread an incredible message. The most important thing for AIDS prevention, she said, was our ability to raise as much money as possible. We don't have a cure, and we will not for quite a long time; raising money for prevention programs and AIDS education is our best bet.
Although Ashley is correct in saying this, I fully believe that in addition to raising more money, there is a need for more global leaders like Mrs. Judd that use the skills, opportunities, and experiences available to them to create change on a global scale. So, when it came time to the 5 minute Q & A section, it occurred to me that I was surrounded by 500 employees, the top company executives, Ashley Judd, and the leadership of the non-profit DC-based organization, YouthAIDS; they needed to hear about AIESEC.
My question to Ashley centered roughly around..."As a university student intern here at AOL, I'm part of the most privileged 1% of the population on this planet. As a university student I have access to skills, opportunities, and experiences, such as the largest student-based educational organization on the planet, AIESEC, that will develop me into a global leader and agent of change. What advice/encouragement would you give to the young employee base here at AOL and university students everywhere about taking full advantage of global opporunities in order to become a change agent like yourself?"
She reaffirmed my point about the 1%, and confirmed that a new generation of global leaders/change agents had to evolve NOW. She then mentioned various events/activities I as a university student could organize on campus to fight AIDS and benefit the world. After the event, I spoke briefly with the President of YouthAIDS and Mrs.
Judd, got the president's contact information and thanked Ashley for her presentation.
In front of over 500 people, I mentioned AIESEC, got Ashley to confirm the necessity and need for what AIESEC provides, and exchanged brief plans for university events with the president of a prominent non-profit organization. Another university organization, SigEP, is involved with YouthAIDS, and I plan to see about organizing events with SigEP and YouthAIDS on campus.
I wanted to tell the nation about this because you never know where AIESEC can creap into your daily life (how about every aspect for me) and how relevant AIESEC is to every region and issue in the world.
Also, with the new design, we will have the capacity to put on a number of incredible events on campus that will be efficient and sustainable.
It's just a matter of time folks. Just a matter of time before we impact the entire world and everybody knows the name of AIESEC. With the passion and leadership this organization has, that time can be cut very short.
@ly,
Andrew Martin
--
Andrew Martin
Local Committee President
AIESEC Washington, D.C.

HIV /AIDS: GREAT CHALLENGE OF OUR AGE AND GENERATION

2005-06-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

People... following the accidental deletion of the previous posting with the topic: HIV / AIDS : IS IT A POVERTY, VULNERABILITY OR A GENDER ISSUE. I will like to introduce this particular topic above. I guess that it will give us a direction and we will get to talk about the previous topic along the line.

The above topic can be linked to this particular link: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/sgsm9906.doc.htm. This is a press release that I would like itto challenge our mindset about what exactly what we aredoing on this blogger.

This few statements have some connections to the question of what really is HIV / AIDS.

If we say POVERTY: From recentUnited Nations finding, it is said that an average african lives on less than a dollar at worse. This among other things made the rapant increase ofHIV /AIDS in the third world countries especially Africa. People aretryingto survive by doing what it takes to survive and try to be somebody in life.
Taking for instance, from a discussion that was had around this topic, it could really be seen from here that an average student in school is putting his / herself through school. Our parents can barely send us to school and ifthey are able to pay our school fees, they can barely be able to feed us talk less of clothing us.. In the process of trying to live a very good life style in school.. we decided to do whatever it will takes, making the selling of ourbody in exchange for cash, comfortability amuch higher priority than our future.

If we say VULNERABILITY: in this case it is the young ones that arereally affected with this factor. We want to be able to communicate among our peer group. We do not wantto be seen as the odd one out.It becomes a case of everyone is doing it so why can't I do it. If we really look at the statistics of the people that are more affected, it si between the ages of 18 -30 yrs of age.
These particular grouo arethe future of any nation, so are we going to allow this epidemic to continue ruining our future? Also it could be said that most areas do not have easy accessibility to materials that educatethe youndg ones on the after effect of having unprotected and safe sex. More on the fact why they should not indulge in it.

If we say GENDER: In Africa it is known that due to alot of traditions and all the rest stuffs, that the female gender is always at the receiving end of whatever the male gender puts across their way. They have to take all sorts of attitude from their husbands all in the name of being married.

Steps to avoiding some of these issues that is being discussed are:

1. Easy access to materials and reading materials on the HIV / AIDS Epidemic

2. Eradicating of Customs that will not bring about progress to people.

3. Having laws laid down againg Gender brutality

4. Educating the young ones on what exactly the HIV / AIDS epidemic is all about.

Another major issue as AIESECERS that I feel we need to really talk about is the stigmatization against people living with HIV / AIDS.Once people have been discovered to be infected, they are treated like dirt. I believe that with real love, these people will live beyond the medicine that is being prescribed for them.
But the major questions I have to put to we all : DO YOU KNOW YOUR STATUS?

Please people do join me on tackling these issues, and which way forward please. I hope to read about more responses from people.

Nice one bibi!!!

2005-05-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Hey bibi, thanks for your contribution...so i guess the next step is to figure out how to start working together.. Here in the US, Leslie is working on grants and stuffs because it will be easy to send students when we have grants. Furthermore i think we will probably need some recommendations from NGO's and organizations that are working on Genesis at the moment, i think that might help as well. If you have any Contacts of NGO's, pls lets know about it and see possible ways of getting a recommendation letter for our grants hunt.

So also i think we also need to start working on ways to work together on PBoxes...

Anyways i hope y'all doing fine and we will here from you guys soon

thanks

D!
Hey trent whats up with you ?

2005-05-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

HIV/AIDS: Is it a Gender, vulnerability or poverty thing?

2005-05-18T03:04:00.000-07:00

Hello People,

I am being prompt to put this particular question forward after reading this article :

NEXT MOVE

2005-05-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

Nice one there Dotun. That is very good. Well taking into considerations that we have all viewed our thoughts and opinions concerning this issue of HIV/AIDS.
As AIESECERS and knowing fully well that our corework is Exchange, the way out here to really utilise our potentials and to put the organisation at the fore front of fighting this epidemic is to Create PBOXes (project Based on Xchane) .
These PBOXes will work hand-in-hand with other NGOs in the country where they are going. We should bear in mind that the NGOs have already existed, but the work of AIESC is to create that real distinct difference that stands us out from other individuals.

I think we should start strategizing on what next we are going to do concerning that. LCs to be worked with, countries that will be allowed to participate in the PBOXes and how grants will be raised.

What do u think people................. Pls shoot the replies this way and lets move forward.

Trent was up? Not too tires I hope ....Sere was pumping..?........Segun how far now?....Give us the latest from WHO...Leslie how far with the grant Stuff? ................ Dotun... how far with ur end over there......lets all move to the next agenda....