Hi everyone,
I am Thomas, born in Southeastern Liberia; but a domicile of the capital city, Monrovia currently.
In my life, I have developed to be busy everyday doing something. I just feel that there is no much time for my generation and that there is more to be done than to be fun of. Reading writing and discovery in the world of ICT and its ease of connectivity and resources are some of my most excitements.
During this course, I will like to follow closely with this all important outline, as it displays a lot of useful insights for a young person who wants to make a difference, not just relating to the HIV/Aids, but developing potential leadership skills. I would love to put myself deeply into the course as if I am working a campaign already; carefully follow others; and most especially learn from other participants of previous projects and strategies that works better in relation to HIV/Aids and SRH rights and advocacy.
According to our guide, we will also be learning how to mobilize at local, national, regional and international level for universal access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support. I think this is very important.
I work with the African Child Peace Initiative as Programs Director; overseeing for four departments and support programs development and implementation. Also supports other national youth led initiatives; such as the Federation of Liberian Youths and Youth Crime Watch of Liberia. The African Child Peace Initiative (ACPI) Inc, a registered youth-led secular, non-tribal, non-political, Non-governmental, peace and community development organization, dedicated to creating a better future for the children and young people post-war Liberian through youth friendly community development and Peacebuilding programmes.
I have served as National Focal Point for GYCA in my country 2008-2009 and continue to work alone and support programs relating to reducing and controlling the prevalence HIV/AIDS and youth led initiatives across the country; including the recent Global Action Week of Action against HIV/Aids were a petition was submitted to our parliament to give attention to care and support for PLWHA. My organization’s HIV/Aids department remains proactively engaged with young students in our partnered schools were HIV/AIDS clubs are been setup to stimulate young people in to action driving towards the promotions control and awareness of prevention of HIV/Aids among students.
As Programs architect, I choose to remain focus, involved and always instrumental in the development and support of meaningful programs that seeks to realize the goals of the organization and critically work towards success.
Welcome everyone. Let Learn, Let's Share and act....!
Hi Thomas, thanks so much for sharing about your work in Liberia. Sounds like you have lots of experience that you will be able to share with us during the course! I am interested to hear the results of the petition that you sent to your parliament to give attention the care and support of PLHIVs... did you get any response from them?
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, looking forward to learn more about your work! Best,
Alex
Hi Thomas! Wow! You're a busy guy! I'm looking forward to learning more about how young people are creating positive change in a post-war context.
ReplyDeleteHi Alex and Lia,
ReplyDeleteIt’s electrifying to note that I had been missing a fantastic trend of discussions here. Sure, one will note lots of amazing works by young people fighting to change the face of the nation’s history.
Liberia’s HIV/AIDS history dated back in the 80s and since than, young people have been involved in the fight against, surely off course the are among the most at risk groups and persons currently affected by the epidemic. Throughout my work, you could see pars of young people, in schools and communities eager to know why HIV? And what can be done to avoid it. Nevertheless, the lack of general consciousness and misconceptions about the disease and stigma which put some efforts to a though struggle.
Crazily and unfortunately as the nation strive towards recovery; HIV is has not been enough of a priority on the political agenda at the highest level were financial resources to effectively address HIV were by far below needs very high levels of stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV limited access to treatment, care and support persisted up to 2006 and 2007 when some policies are been recover and new laws designed and implemented..
My organization; like several grass root national youth led institutions, we consistently; together with our partners continue to work, amidst several constraints with partners schools and administrators who provide us the opportunity to deliver lifesaving messages and education to young people in schools and student communities in urban rural communities.
In the 2008 Global AIDS Week of Action, there was a march on the legislature by members of a network of organizations of women living with HIV and AIDS to demand access to treatment and healthcare and an end to stigmatization and discrimination; and in 2009, it became more elaborate when we presented a petition to the Legislature which we will be following up during this years Campaign. Notwithstanding; some concern state leaders have pledge their commitments and surely some reasonable steps are been taken already. In our communications to the President of Liberia, the Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Mr. Walter Gwenigale, Dr. Vohn, Director of the National Aids control program, and the Minister of Youth and sports among others, we stressed that the greatest challenges facing the response to the issue of HIV/Aids in Liberia is inadequate access to treatment, prevention, and care for people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as for those most vulnerable to its impact, like women and children. Around the globe, too few people are able to reach essential medicines, such as antiretroviral treatment, and basic prevention services, such as testing and condoms, primarily because of poverty and lack of political leadership.
Besides the community led activities for awareness and engaging leaders; the week was been blended with young people’s voices to advocate for the provision of quality treatment in orders to reduce stigma and death of People Living with AIDS (PL’s) saw in a Debate amongst 8 Schools; a result which was overwhelmingly encouraging were NGOs and community workers were able diagnose the level of knowledge acquired by students about the pandemic and their ability to articulate it. Besides, the forum was used to share the fact about HIV/AIDS thus being able to hear and dispel some myth about the virus.
The struggle will persist as long as human will want to live better life, and together, our networks need to strive for new dimensions and strategies that would upbeat the new challenges as they come.
I always believe that one of the key tool that would brink those changes everywhere are valid commitments and those monitoring mechanisms; which displays those realistic response as enshrine into policies and Strategic Plans….!
That’s why we will not sleep and that’ why we are all good to be connected to share with each other our vision towards this success in the endeavor to FREE… our world totally from HIV/AIDS and their related diseases….
Great Thomas!
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