1800 young in Medellin sensitized to HIV: a hope

Dear GlobalGiving donors & SiFuturo friends,

This time, we wanted to summarize the reach of our prevention and sensitization campaigns funded by you – our supporters. The project titled “1800 young in Medellin sensitized to HIV: a hope” has been active for 2 years now, widely fulfilling all of our expectations. Alone in the first semester of 2018, we managed to bring our workshops to 585 young people in the city of Medellín and its surroundings.

Here are some key statistics of our workshops:

1. In the Tulio Ospina high school, we conducted workshops for 121 students. 
2. In the Alfonso Mora Naranjo high shool, we conducted workshops for 101 students. 
3. In the San Lorenzo de Aburrá high school, we conducted workshops for 203 students. 
4. In the José Manuel Gómez Serna high school, we conducted workshops for 160 students.  

We wanted to give you a glance into the structure of one of our prevention workshops, so you understand how prevention actions are carried out during the 3 meetings that usually constitute the workshop:

• First session: HIV / AIDS awareness workshop: Why do we take risks if those can be avoided?
• Second session: Academic discussion led by professional volunteers of the immunovirology research department of the University of Antioquia – one of our long-time academic partners.
• Third session: Creative workshop: where we use art as a form of expression and collective learning, sharing experiences and collecting messages surrounding the topic of sexual and reproductive health.

The itinerant exhibition we financed with the resources raised in GlobalGiving is also a cornerstone of our workshops. In order to benefit the entire educational community during the time of intervention, the exhibition is taken to the schools and left there for a certain period of time for students to reflect on its messages. The exhibition is composed by 12 publicity pieces that illustrate HIV prevention messages in a creative and contemporary way aimed at reaching our target audience.

The aforementioned workshops had the support of the Ministry of Education of the Mayor's Office of Medellín through the Protected Environments School Program, prioritizing 7 educational institutions. Its purpose was to carry out educational and preventive actions during the first semester of 2018, and in this way strengthen sexual education projects contributing to the development of early warning mindsets in young people.

This alliance allowed for the development of coordinated work with state-funded psychologists in each institution, integrally addressing the issue of sexual and reproductive health.

Just for you to know, we will be closing this project soon. You cannot begin to imagine how grateful we are for your support: it has allowed for thousands to be sensitized about the HIV infection in the city of Medellín reducing stigma and having a long-term impact intended to improve the acceptance of infected individuals.

As you know, we already fulfilled the specific targets of this project. Nevertheless, preventing the spread of HIV and sensitizing young people about the infection is an ongoing task and something we strive for. That is the reason why we want you to stay tuned because a new project aimed at expanding the geographical reach of our sensitization workshops to the regions of Colombia will be launched soon and we need your help now more than ever!