HIV/AIDS Online Resources...

So, now all I need are some resources...

Could people post in the comments of this post any HIV/AIDS related NGO, foundation/grant, governmental, or private (like real people) websites or blogs?

What should be in the comment:
1) The website address
2) What country or countries the website serves
3) Type of website (Government, NGO, etc...)
4) And why it is a good resource for those interested in learning more about HIV/AIDS or for those who are interested in expanding Genesis.

Any links posted, Ill put over on the right hand navigation bar. Thanks.

AIDS: Not just an African problem...

indiaAIDSbbc
Originally uploaded by takrupp.

I know when I was working on an AIDS Awareness program in Egypt, the biggest misconception was that AIDS isn't everyone's problem. The fact is, that in countries where it "isn't a problem" that is how the problem begins.

The BBC recently ran a story (click here) about AIDS in the soon to be (if it isn't already) largest country in the world. Places like Egypt, India, Malaysia, China, and numerous other place refuse to allow organizations like the WHO to actively audit the AIDS problem in their countries. Furthermore, people refuse to get tested because of the discrimination they feel from the government, business and family. Its a "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" mentality that is a serious public danger, and one that will need to be overcomed if AIDS is to ever be made history.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED

I really am happy that this particular forum is up and people are really contributing to it. My name is Bose from AIESEC Lagos, Nigeria.
Here in Africa there is a high rate of people dying everyday from HIV/AIDS. But in Nigeria here, there is a big problem. People are really ignorant of a lot of facts concerning the disease and more also people do not like talking about them. A country whereby sex education or talk about sex is forbidden as a thing of open. Children are really suppose to have sex education in there curriculum from primary school. At least a little bit in there health education curriculum, it will really help.

I will not call it ignorance but refusal to learn is what is really our problem. With the high death rate on a daily basis from HIV/AIDS, I think that people should open there ears and eyes wide and be ready to lern at all cost.

The role of AIESEC in this will really help as it is a student-based organisation but most importantly in the Traineeship process will be the big question of WHAT WILL BE OUR OWN LEARNING IN ALL THESE? In helping our country to be rid of all these and really teaching people how to care for people living with HIV/AIDS, because we have a lot of stigma here in our society. Once you have been known to be HIV Positive it is like a death warrant has been handed over to one.
It is not so. People Living with HIV/AIDS can still live a normal life. As an AIESECER and this initiative coming through, it will really be a big way of learning. I am really glad to be part of this.

Please let us all contribute.

Making a difference, in a different way...

Hi everyone... i must say that i am quite impressed with the enthusiasm of AIESEC members in the US, with regards to the issue of HIV/AIDS.

Just to introduce myself, i'm Saratu Umar... currently MCVP ER @ in South Africa, and team leader of the AIESEC Genesis HIV/AIDS LN.

There's talk about HIV/AIDS in Africa, and everyone seems to focus their attention on the continent... Truth is, it's not just an African problem, and i find it sometimes amusing when people ask me "why are your people dying of AIDS"... for me, that is a VERY ignorant and naive statement. Research shows that Europe and Central Asia are at the centre of the fastest growing epidemic in the World. One would assume that it's right to start tackling the issue in other parts of the World before it becomes a complicated problem like it is for us here...I hate to be cynical, but let's look at the issue in a more holistic manner.

As @ people and youth, we should remember that it's not just about sending trainees to Africa to assist... thousands of other organisations that are direct impact are working on the issue here. In South Africa alone. there are about 6,000 organisations around HIV/AIDS... Does AIESEC want to be just another one? Or do we want to do more than that? How much learning around the issue to we have to affect others? How do we make a difference as a global organisation, how do we get our members to understand the gravity of the virus?

To all the new contributors...

I'm starting to get contributors onto the Genesis Blog, and that means we need introductions, so...

If you are a new editor please leave the following information in the comments of this post:
1) Name, LC, and Country
2) Any experience you have in AIESEC, especially anything that relates to Genesis or AIDS
3) Reason for being a Genesis contributor...

Any other information you'd like to share is also welcomed. Lets get this baby rolling...

Color me Impressed...

Wow, this is really impressive. After about 24 hours and a dozen emails out to various lists and to various contacts of contacts, there are already about a dozen people interested in becoming contributors. AWESOME!

It looks like this community will have CEEDers, Trainees, Alumni with experience with AIDS, Genesis LN drive team members, and a ton of really excited AIESECers from the United States, Kenya, Nigeria, and Botswana.

And this is the problem...
"I am from AIESEC Berkeley (US) and i have a few question for you. I spoke with San Francisco AIDS Foundation not too long ago and they are interested in having people work within their organziation. The only problem is that they do not have the funding to do this. What recommendations could you give me to help them with finding funding." ~ Andrea

The opportunities are everywhere, from Africa to the US to South East Asia, and AIESEC is the solution. Let's work together and make some change happen.

This is going to be big....

What is Genesis:
Genesis Learning Network is a maturing initative of AIESEC International to empower young people and their communities to combat the world AIDS epidemic.

How will Genesis impact the AIDS epidemic:
Since Genesis' birth at AIESEC's annual International Congress (Serbia and Montenegro 2003), AIESEC has worked with corporations, non-profits and NGOs to offer programming and advocacy in Sub-Saharan Africa. More recently, certain AIESEC countries have procured funding to allow for internship exchange to non-profit organizations who work with AIDS in Africa. It is hoped that more nations will begin to participate in Genesis by offering programming and exchange initiatives.

Why a Blog:
Genesis has seen a lot of collaboration within AIESEC to accomplish the objectives of the Learning Network. AIESEC.net and the Global HIV/AIDS Learning Network Community has been a great impetus from which to launch Genesis, however, it is lacking in two key areas: 1) It is a closed site, open only to AIESECers, and thus externals interested in supporting and working with AIESEC through Genesis have no central portal from which to learn about the program, 2) Participation in the community has been limited and sporadic with no central location to attract and facilitate discussion. It is hoped that a Genesis blog will attract more attention from within and without AIESEC.

Who should belong to the Genesis Blog:
Ideally, the Genesis Blog will have commentary from a wide variety of people, including past and present AIESECers, as well as those who are outside of AIESEC and who could provide knowledge that is currently not present internally. The Genesis Blog is looking for editors who will be active in stirring debate, exchanging knowledge and facilitating those who want to advance the Genesis cause, particularly, spreading Genesis to countries that currently do not actively participate and expanding participation within current Genesis countries. Examples of such people could be: Those who are currently running Genesis Programs in their country (like Kenya, Canada, South Africa, etc), people who would like to begin a Genesis Initiative in their country, exchange participants who have worked in Sub-Saharan Africa within the AIDS field, and anyone else who feels pasionate enough about this cause that they feel compelled to act.

While we hope to have an expansive team of editors, they will not be the only contributors: Anyone with feedback from this blog should leave commentary. Hopefully, this will lead to a fruitful exchange of thoughts and ideas about AIDS and Genesis.

Who are you?
My name is Trent Krupp, and I've been in AIESEC for about 4 years now. Last summer I did an traineeship in Cairo, Egypt where I worked for the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation to advocate AIDS Awareness; this traineeship has since become one of the showcase exchanges for Genesis.

After learning about the success in places like Germany and Canada in securing funding for exchanges based on Genesis, I took a personal, albeit, causual interest in starting a Genesis exchange program here in the United States. Recently after being approached by Fredrick "Dotun" Oludotun (AIESEC - Nigeria), my LC (AIESEC - Madison) through the personal initiative of a new member, Leslie Hejnal, has begun seeking funding to jump-start a Genesis project based exchange in the United States. Personally, I would like to learn how other developing countries have been successful with Genesis and later on work with AIESEC chapters in Sub-Saharan Africa to raise impactful exchange.

Interested:
Anyone interested in becoming an editor should email me at takrupp@gmail.com.

Genesis

"Another laudable initiative is the Genesis Programme currently being piloted by the Africa Chapter of the International Youth Development Organisation, AIESEC (see www.aiesec.org). Through the Genesis Programme, recent university graduates of African origin are placed in international voluntary assignments in other African countries. Their work includes supporting non-profit organisations working on different social issues including HIV/AIDS, gender issues, Information Technology or various other community projects. These international volunteers learn and share their experiences and ideas with others around the world on AIESEC’s online Learning Communities and are supported through a process of mentorship to make their learning explicit. These graduates get the opportunity to hone leadership skills by working at a low-risk leadership role and gain practical expertise on issues that are likely to be similar to issues in their home country. The added value of volunteering abroad helps focus the graduates on the project; provides the space to reflect on learning and an expanded awareness of social issues facing the continent. It also helps in building self-esteem – for both themselves and the communities they serve. With increasing corporate funding to cover the travel and sustenance costs of volunteers, more and more graduates are benefiting from the Genesis Programme. Currently, AIESEC in Africa is seeking to partner with airlines within Africa to offer free or rebated flight tickets during the off peak period to enable the volunteers travel for their assignments." (Article 13)