The Dominica Youth Environment Organisation has hosted several camps for various youth groups in the past on the above mentioned topics ( HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse). The weekend’s camp 10 – 12 December 2004 was however a bit different in that it was a training of trainer’s camp and the participants got to meet persons living of the HIV/AIDS virus.



The weekend experience brought to light the fact that many persons harbour misconceptions about the effects of certain drugs on an individual and the manner in which HIV positive persons should be treated. This steams primarily from ignorance of the facts and fear of the unknown. These issues were the primary focus of the camp.



Facilitators highlighted the seemingly harmless drugs (alcohol, marijuana, pharmaceutical drugs) and enumerated the dangers that they pose to the individual who abuses the substance, his family and society on a whole. Identifying symptoms of an abuser and ways in which one can safeguard oneself were also explored. Participants were therefore left with a clear idea of the dangers of these substances and the techniques to use not only to keep from using them but to dissuade others as well.



The HIV/AIDS session was rather emotional as two HIV positive persons were invited to socialise with the participants before revealing their status. Joe Brown (not real name) from Trinidad, a 16 year old who has been positive for all of his life, Andy from The United Kingdom who has been positive for ten years now along with Sandra Stapleton from Cyril Ross Nursery in Trinidad (Home which cares for abandoned HIV positive children) all gave a testimony of their lives with and around HIV positive persons.

Members had vocalised their unabridged opinions on HIV positive persons and the way that they should be treated beforehand. This was especially important since our guests were seated right next to some of the most aggressive speakers who were ignorant of their HIV status. The misconceptions, ignorance, fear, rejection and stereotypes were all but too obvious.

Initial reactions to the Joe’s and Andy’s news of their Positive HIV status ranged from shock to disbelief “but they look so normal”. Therein lies the biggest misconception, if he looks good, if he looks healthy then he can’t be HIV positive. Participants were quite baffled that they could not tell by simply looking, that Joe and Andy were positive.



That’s when it began to dawn on us all that HIV does not change someone’s personality, it is just an illness, incurable but still a disease.



The objectives of the camp were amply met. Participants became more in tuned with the plight of HIV positive persons, the rejection that they are faced with and their need for love from family and friends. They realised the need to treat everyone with respect and dignity and as a potential HIV positive person. Participants left with the conviction that they were now able to better serve their communities in regards to their attitude towards HIV positive individuals.



It is strongly recommended that this experience be repeated, though realistically this method of sensitisation may not always work, it may very well have the opposite effect but if one person from any group is moved to change his attitude then the flame of hope that discrimination being a thing of the past burns brighter still.

By

Marvo Didier