Presbyterian Youth Committed to Continuing to Fight HIV and AIDS
Photo credit: Paul Jeffrey, EAA
Presbyterian youth delegates participated in the march against stigma, discrimination and homophobia in Mexico City during AIDS 2008, the XVII International AIDS Conference held in Mexico City, Mexico. Presbyterian youth delegate Kristen Hazlett at far right.
Five Presbyterian youth who recently attended the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City are more committed than ever to raising awareness about HIV and AIDS. The AIDS Conference highlighted advancements made in recent years in access to treatment and care and comprehensive prevention messages, but the increasing numbers of HIV cases show there is still much work to do.
The five Presbyterian youth, Adam Hall (Calgary), Michelle Verwey (Victoria), Fiona MacKenzie (Edmonton), Kristen Hazlett (Toronto/Calgary) and Stephanie Symington (Calgary), together with leader Karen Plater and Meshack Kuwula from the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania (PWS&D partner), made up the Presbyterian delegation. They joined over 480 faith-based representatives at the three-day pre-conference convened by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and attended the main conference as delegates.
Photo credit: Paul Jeffrey, EAA
Presbyterian youth delegates Stephanie Symington (left), Michelle Verwey (right) and Adam Hall (far right) participating in table discussions at Faith in Action Now!, the Ecumenical Pre-Conference to AIDS 2008, the XVII International AIDS Conference held in Mexico City, Mexico.
The youth were sent in response to a challenge from the AIDS 2006 conference held in Toronto to engage youth in the fight against HIV and AIDS at all levels, recognizing that 45% of all new HIV infections in adults are among young people aged 15-24 years of age. Michelle Verwey was impressed that the church was committed to engaging youth in this issue. “Thanks for putting your trust in our intelligence, enthusiasm and abilities,” she expressed, on behalf of the group.
The Presbyterian delegates expanded their knowledge and skills by attending the numerous workshops and plenary sessions at both the pre-conference and main conference. They expressed their opinions by participating in marches against stigma and discrimination, and for access to medicines and human rights. A youth caucus at the ecumenical pre-conference helped the youth find ways to share experiences and collaborate together. The caucus wrote a statement which encouraged churches to recognize that youth in the church come in with many different experiences and challenged participants to engage them – and listen to them – in this fight against AIDS.
Throughout the conference, the group was challenged to find ways to address HIV and AIDS from within the church in their home communities. Kevin Moody, international coordinator of the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS particularly encouraged work back home in the community. “We think it’s extremely important that congregations…are accepting of people living with HIV. Because we believe if the congregations are accepting, the communities will be accepting,” Moody said.
Photo credit: Paul Jeffrey, EAA
At the Interfaith Exibit at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, delegates learned about travel restrictions on HIV positive people by answering a series of questions correctly, earning them stamps in a passport, which when completed earned them an HIV+ luggage tag.
Ambassador Sigrunn Mögedal of Norway echoed the challenge to faith groups. “The church must address the barriers they themselves create,” she says, including stigma and discrimination.
Father Wamala, a Catholic priest from Uganda, emphasized, “As churches there are many things that divide us, but to fight HIV and AIDS we need to start from shared concerns…fighting stigma and discrimination, preventing HIV and AIDS, treatment and care and love.”
Adam Hall felt the gathering of people from all areas of the world helped him understand the disease from different contexts and experiences. “I made friends from such distant places as Africa, Asia, and South America.”
The youth are eager to share their experiences in their regions. If you would like to host a speaker in your church, please contact Lindsey Hepburn, Mission Interpretation Coordinator. lhepburn@presbyterian.ca 1-800-619-7301 or 416-441-1111.
The youth were sponsored by the national church, with funds from Presbyterians Sharing, Presbyterian World Service & Development and the Women’s Missionary Society. In addition, the Alberta Synod supported the youth from Alberta and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Victoria supported Michelle.. This continues the work that was begun four years ago with The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Towards a World without AIDS campaign.