Activism

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I am a bit of an activist at heart. There are two things I am very passionate about:

1. The fight against HIV and AIDS.

2. The fight against sexual violence in The Democratic Republic of Congo.

I have written about HIV/AIDS and recently I was asked to a hold HIV/AIDS focus group at a secondary school, which is something I would like to do regularly in the future. Contact me if you would like me to hold a HIV/AIDS focus group in your establishment. I also like to attend HIV-related charity events and conferences so if you know of any events, please get in touch with me, I would love to attend or support.

Here are a few links for more information on HIV and AIDS:

The Terrence Higgins Trust: THT was one of the first charities to be set up in response to the HIV epidemic and has been at the forefront of the fight against HIV, and improving the nation’s sexual health, ever since.

National AIDS trust: Transforming the UK’s response to HIV.

Global Health Council:  Learn more about the impact of HIV and AIDS in the world.

Aids portal:  Search for HIV & AIDS and health related information, contribute your experiences and connect to people, groups and organisations from around the world.

HIV info from the NHS: Learn about HIV diagnosis, choices, etc. from the NHS.

Hydeia Broadbent - The website of a very inspiring young lady – HIV/AIDS activist and humanitarian.

Marvelyn Brown - Another inspiring lady living with AIDS, HIV activist.

Body &Soul - A London-based charity for families affected by HIV.

SisterLove - A HIV & AIDS charity with a focus on African women.

A very inspiring video on how Dazon D. Diallo started her organisation, SisterLove, a HIV & AIDS non-profit org with a focus on African women.

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29th November 2011

I attended a lecture at the Royal Society, about the progress in AIDS treatment and impact of ARV (Antiretrovirals) on a global scale Here is what I learnt:

Today, it is proven that Antiretrovirals reduce the risk of transmission by 96% in adults and 30%-54% in unborn babies. But scientific research has to continue as 30 years after the discovery of AIDS, we still have no vaccine and no cure. This is due to a limitation in animal models that can be used for research, the genetic variability of the HIV and many other factors. There is a vaccine that boosts protection levels by 30% (the Thai-RV144) and few people have natural protection but in terms of “curing” AIDS, the ultimate goal still hasn’t been achieved. ARV is a lifelong treatment and does not completely reconstruct the immune system and although it does improve the quality of life of AIDS victims, it is no genuine substitute for an effective, ultimate cure.

The current model to tackle HIV and AIDS was presented to us as follows:

Scientific evidence and data from individual countries > Activism (including creating awareness) > Political leaders and health authorities> Work with communities > Training > intervention  from organisations > Access to Care and Treatment.

There is an urgent need for new funding to implement the strategies and mechanisms currently put in place to combat AIDS. Without funding, the pandemic will not only continue but it will increase too. And the current economical crisis does not help.

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December 1st

World AIDS Day. I wrote this post today. The fight against HIV continues. Let us all do what we can. It starts with individual responsibility.

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Sexual violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The DR Congo is my country of origin. I lived there as a child and in 2008, I went back on holiday for the first time in 20 years. It was a culture shock, but also a wake up call. I discovered the truth about the things that really went on in my country. When I got home, I was eager to find out more, and help change things, in my own ways. One of my long term goals is to do some humanitarian or charity work, related to the eradication of sexual violence against women in Congo. In the mean time, I try to educate myself as much as possible.  Follow me as I embark on this journey… This page will be a diary of the different events/conferences I attend.

Firstly, here are a few links for more information on these horrendous crimes for those of you who want to learn more about sexual violence in Congo:

Rape and sexual violence in Congo 

Donate for the cause

Iman on sexual violence in Congo:

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Monday 16th May 2011

The UN Women launch at the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts)

I attended the UN Women launch today with two of my friends and we left the event totally inspired. It was a one and a half hour long lecture/presentation on equal rights and the work that UN Women are doing in conjunction with other organisations such as the VSO etc.

A few photos from the event (sorry about the poor quality):

The speakers:

  • Michelle Bachelet - Undersecretary general and executive director of UN Women (and ex-president of Chile)
  • Jane Martinson – Women’s editor of The Guardian.
  • Jan Grasty – President of UN Women National Committee UK
  • Theresa May – Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities.

Today I learnt that there is still a lot that can be done to bring positive change to women around the world. To begin with, placing more women at the top (i.e. senior roles, in government, in parliament, as leaders of top organisations, decision makers, etc.) will ensure that women’s voices around the world are heard. This is what UN Women will do – they will empower women everywhere to have a greater influence on their communities and ultimately on a global scale.

“Equal rights isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s also the smart thing to do.” - Michelle Bachelet

This event has definitely inspired me to do something, to do more and in fact, to never stop doing what I can, even if it’s not much – from writing and talking about it, to volunteering or working for the cause. The event will soon be available to watch online. I will post the link to the video as soon as it’s published. Also coming soon – a post on the topic of violence against women in Congo.

“Countries with greater gender equality have economies that are more competitive and grow faster, as shown through a comparative analysis of 134 countries.” - Global gender Gap report, World Economic Forum (WEF), 2010.

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Thursday 4th August 2011

I’m very happy to announce that I was the winner of the Blog 4 Girls competition, by Plan UK in conjunction with The Guardian. My post Breaking the barriers to girls education in the third world was chosen as the winning post and my prize is a 5-day trip to Ethiopia with 2 members of staff from Plan UK as well as the development editor of The Guardian, to visit some of the educational projects that Plan have in Ethiopia for young girls. Please support the ‘Because I am a girl’campaign – the work that Plan are doing is amazing and touches lives around the globe.

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Wednesday 7th September 2011

I’ve just watched “Bas! Beyond the Red Light”, a documentary about the work of the Rescue Foundation, an organisation that rescues young girls from brothels and child trafficking/prostitution. It was such an inspiring, moving film. I learnt that there are thousands of girls hidden in brothels on the streets of Mumbai and that over a third of them are HIV positive. Some are as young as 12, 13 when they are kidnapped and sold into prostitution. They get tortured, some are drugged or become alcoholics.

If the girl is not rescued within a few months of being captured, she will probably end up accepting the situation she is in as fate, and will believe that her parents would never take her back and that she’ll never find anyone to marry her. Her heart will be hardened and she will think “I might as well stay here.” However if she is rescued within a few months, she will be given the opportunity to start a new life with an association like the Rescue Foundation.

A lot of these girls end up getting pregnant, the babies are given away for adoption as the foundation does not cater for infants. At the Rescue Foundation, the girls are given shelter, food, dance and drama classes, to teach them how to love their bodies again, self-confidence and self-empowerment. When they reach the age of 18, these girls have no choice but to leave the Rescue Foundation.

One thing I thought was very sad is the fact that at this stage, the girls are either left to fend for themselves again, or the foundation arranges for them to get married to much older men. I suppose culture and tradition still have a strong impact on the way they act, even in the context of charity.

I MUST go to Mumbai. I think I will arrange it after my trip to Ethiopia…

Here is the trailer of the documentary:

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December 1st 2011

Quick update on my trip to Ethiopia: It was amazing. Here is a post that summarize the things I experienced: A very personal encounter with Ethiopia