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SWA-Nigeria HIV/AIDS Awareness
Benin City Nigeria
On
Thursday, May 18, 2006, Student World Assembly-Nigeria and
the Edo State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria
hosted an event paying tribute to International HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day and the 2006 International AIDS Candle Light
Memorial. This event brought together many students and
youth from the six Niger Delta states, as well as Nigerian
Government officials and members of other local Nigerian
NGOs.
Some
of those in attendance included the Governor of Edo State,
Nigeria, representatives from the Ministry of Youth and
Sports, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the Global HIV/AIDS
Initiative in Nigeria, the Society for Family Health, members
of the National Youth Council of Nigeria-Edo State, and
Student World Assembly members from the University of Benin,
Ambrose Ali University-Edo State, and the Universal College
of Technology.
In
recognition of International HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Mr.
Sidney of the Nigerian Red Cross Society spoke about the
importance of getting tested and the critical need for pre-
and post- counseling. He also lectured on the “Zip
Up” initiative, a program that encourages young people
to abstain from sex until one is
of age and ready. During his lecture students had the opportunity
to view a presentation of the proper use of the male and
female condom—a useful educational tool in the fight
against AIDS.
Another
lecturer, Ms. Phil Irene of the Global AIDS Initiative Nigeria,
spoke about the damaging effects of stigmatization and discrimination
that people living with HIV/AIDS are confronted with on
a daily basis, and how there is a need for greater understanding
within society. She also spoke passionately about her support
for finding a way to lift limitations on international travel
and migration for those suffering from the virus.
After
the informative and stirring lectures, those at the event
participated in a quiet Candle Light Memorial service, an
International service ceremony dedicated to all people currently
suffering from AIDS, those who have previously lost their
lives, and all those who continue to contribute to the fight
against AIDS by helping those in need.
SWA
would like to extend its congratulations and warmest thanks
to SWA-Nigeria and the National Youth Council of Nigeria-Edo
State for holding a successful event that provided HIV/AIDS
education and awareness to the students, youth and all residents
of the community.
Click
here to view more photos of the event...
SWA-NY Joins 47,000 Others for HIV/AIDS Awareness,
New York
On
Sunday, May 21, 2006, SWA members from many local New York
area chapters came out to show their support for the 21st
Annual AIDS Walk New York. The event, which has been held
every year since 1985, was the most successful to date,
bringing together more than 47,000 participants and raising
an instrumental $6.5 million to fight the ongoing battle
against AIDS.
AIDS
Walk New York is a 6-mile trek around New York City’s
Central Park where walkers are entertained along the way
by cheerleaders, bands, and flag shows, and are provided
with free food and water donated by local businesses for
the event. This year the AIDS walk featured a special honor
guard bearing flags from around the world to show support
for the United Nation’s high-level meeting on AIDS
later this month. At the upcoming meeting, UNAIDS, the Joint
United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (which works on the ground
in over 75 countries), will launch its 2006 report on the
global AIDS epidemic, an account containing the most recent
and in-depth data on the virus from countries around the
world.
The
event was organized by the Gay Men’s Health Crisis
(GMHC), a nonprofit group dedicated to the fight against
AIDS. GMHC lobbies on behalf of people currently living
with HIV/AIDS to improve their health and independence,
provides free HIV testing to the people of New York City,
and urges widespread HIV/AIDS education and prevention initiatives.
The money raised during the walk will help support GMHC
as well as provide funding for AIDS research and various
other New York area AIDS organizations.
It
is important to remember that the world’s attention
to this epidemic has saved and prolonged countless lives
since Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first
named by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 1982, and
that many steps have been taken towards HIV/AIDS education
and prevention. While the work to raise awareness and funds
in the battle against the AIDS epidemic is ongoing, the
Student World Assembly would like to thank all those who
have participated in events and continue their work striving
toward these goals.
A
special thanks goes out to the SWA-Kingsborough Community
College Chapter for their tireless work and support of the
AIDS Walk New York event.
Click
here to view more photos of the event ...
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Action Alert |
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Indonesia Earthquake
Just before 6 a.m. on May 27, an earthquake struck
Java Island, Indonesia, causing catastrophic damage.
The 6.3-magnitude quake resulted in over 5,800 casualties,
with the death toll continuing to rise. This has
been the worst disaster in Indonesia since the December
26, 2004 quake, which created a tsunami that ravaged
through southeast Asia. Located on the “Ring
of Fire,” hundreds of aftershocks have followed
along with heavy rainfall, leaving over 20,000 survivors
in desperate need of food and supplies. Thousands
have been left homeless and are in need of medical
attention. With several hospitals destroyed, there
is a growing shortage of space and medical equipment
needed to treat suffering victims.
At this stage we encourage our members to donate
to the relief organizations that are on the ground
helping with the relief effort. You can either donate
to local charity organizations that are working
on this matter or checkout the following organizations
which have set up online donation funds:
World
Vision Donation:
American
Red Cross Donation:
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Announcement |
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Call for Host Chapters
for Convention ‘07
Deadline: JUNE 20th, 2006
SWA is seeking applicants to host the third annual
SWA International Convention, that is going to be
held in March, 2007. Chapters who are interested
in applying as hosts for the Convention may download
the application from the SWA website by clicking
here:
2007-Convention-Application.doc
Applications must be received by the SWA via email
no later than June 20th, 2006, and sent to Hannah
Dunphy. Applications will then be reviewed by
this year's International Convention and Event Planning
(ICEP) Committee, formed at the Montreal ‘06
Convention. The ICEP Committee encourages interested
Chapters to apply as soon as possible. The host
Chapter will be announced by the ICEP Committee
and SWA staff on July 1st, 2006.
SWA’s annual International Convention is
the largest SWA event each year. Bringing together
delegates from SWA Chapters worldwide, the general
assembly deliberates and democratically passes resolutions
addressing the most pressing global issues. More
information about the Montreal
‘06 Convention can be found here.
Only officially registered SWA Chapters may apply.
Individual members may not apply if they are not
a part of a registered Chapter. All SWA Chapters
will be considered equally eligible on basis of
location, size and university type, but applications
must demonstrate the Chapter’s ability to
host this large, multi-day event.
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Submissions |
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SWA Update
Do
you have an event you want to tell everyone about?
Or, is there a great book that you think should
be featured in an SWA update?
Well,
send your information to Ginger
Albertson, SWA’s Publications
Coordinator, at ginger@studentworldassembly.org.
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