Youth advisors quiz highlights HIV and AIDS stigma

Alongside, other members of Plan UK’s youth advisory panel, Alia, aged 16, recently met with DfID (Department for International Development) Minister Gareth Thomas to discuss the challenges faced by some of the world’s poorest children affected by HIV and AIDS.

Members of CAP prepare for their HIV and AIDS meeting

“Myself and three other members of the Children’s Advisory Panel (CAP) travelled to London to meet at the Department for International Development. The aim of our visit was to talk to MP Gareth Thomas about HIV and AIDS and to display the fact that young people are also concerned about the worrying rise in cases of young people across the globe being diagnosed with the fatal disease.

“During the day, we heard many different children, none of whom knew one another personally, but were connected by the necessity to overcome HIV and AIDS. All of the members of CAP were shocked by the trials such young people had to face and each of us admitted that we could not even comprehend some of the problems these people had to deal with.

“From the outset, the day was very insightful, it made each one of us think about how privileged we are but in the same thought, how unfair it is that people just like us have to suffer this disease alone.

“Talking to Gareth Thomas and many other influential people was nerve-wracking but it was great to feel that we had a voice and such important people were willing to listen to us.

“During our presentation, we decided to hold a quiz about HIV and AIDS for the adults. We decided that the way to portray our point well would be to split the group into teams and ask them to raise their hands if they knew the answer to a question. However, there was a twist. We were to ignore one of the groups at all costs, no matter how many times they raised their hands!

“We felt that this was a perfect way to display the stigma attached to a person with HIV or AIDS. They are often ignored, left without a voice and sidelined. We explained that the rejection the group just experienced was a prolonged experience for many young people with AIDS. And shouldn’t their voices be heard too?

“At the end of the meeting, the entire group felt very informed and inspired to do the best we could to get the voices of youth acknowledged and for nobody to be ignored.”

The group also presented the Minister with Plan’s new report ‘Circle of Hope’ on children affected by HIV and AIDS, ahead of the International AIDS Conference.