 | AIDS related exhibition in Oral. Signs of Hope, Steps for Change May 2005
On December 1st 2003, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance < http://www.e-alliance.ch > put on an exhibition of posters at the UN General Secretariat in New York. The AIDS related posters were from 32 countries, from Asia, Africa, Europe and America, from schools, government agencies, and religious organizations, and totalled about 90. These have been made available through a CD for free use by others.
The Oblast AIDS centre in conjunction with Professional Associates, West Kazakhstan, and with some financial support from the akimats Association of Youth Organizations, used this
resource to print 38 A3 posters which gave an
opportunity to consider such topics as the ways
HIV is transmitted and not transmitted, stigma
and discrimination, positive attitudes to those
infected with HIV, what ways can people help,
and whether there are any grounds for hope in
the face of AIDS.
The exhibition was held in the citys
exhibition hall from 10th to the 20th May 2005
to coincide with the Day of remembrance of those who have died of AIDS. Volunteers who acted as guides for the exhibition were prepared. Mostly these were school students who work with the Oblast AIDS centre. But some of the time adult volunteers attached to Professional Associates acted as guides.
Translations into Russian and Kazak of text on the posters, and other information were prepared, to assist the process of reflection about the themes portrayed on the posters. Background music, including songs from CUAHAs CD Joint Action creates _ Hope _ creates joint action < http://www.cuaha.info > was at times played in the hall.
Over the 9 days the hall was open a total of 2262 visitors were recorded. Many of these left very positive observations in the Comments Book. A few were very noticeably touched by the content of the posters, especially where they showed a brother or husband or friend committed to continuing to care for an HIV infected sister, wife or friend. Many saw that there are some signs of hope in relation to AIDS. Through the contacts of the AIDS centres education work students from 30 schools , 15 colleges, and 5 establishments of higher education attended. Along with these were members of the public who heard of the exhibition from newspaper, radio and local TV reports.
In the future, it is planned to prepare a CD, including the posters and all the translated materials so that other oblasts can simply use the EAA resource.
Locally, after stands and frames for the posters have been purchased, this is one resource that could travel to the raions, and even around the schools in the city, to be a focus for lesson or after lesson activities.
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