Make the most of your world.

“This group of employees from the district hospital in Namibia had just finished planting seeds in their plot at the hospital’s community garden. The women are part of an HIV support group at the hospital that I had the pleasure of teaching permagarden gardening techniques to. I had asked them to dance as they had a few days earlier while we worked on their plot. They were kind enough to sing and dance as we celebrated the majority of the work being complete and we therefore wished their seeds happy growing.”

Namibia Peace Corps HIV/AIDS women agriculture garden Fight AIDS End AIDS sing smiles happy joy

Aug 31, 2015

“I took this photo on May 29th, 2012 in Vanuatu, at a week-long workshop I led for Ni-Vanuatu Village Health Workers. We taught them simple tools and resources they can use to effectively teach their remote communities about HIV and AIDS and to carry out awareness and prevention. This is a picture of one of the Village Health Workers, Matilda, practicing using this poster to explain how the immune system works. This then leads the way into a discussion of how HIV works in the body.”

Vanuatu Peace Corps HIV/AIDS health education teaching students Fight AIDS Stop AIDS End AIDS

Aug 20, 2015

lumela-lesotho:

Over 50 people a day come to this community water tap. Over time, that’s a lot of folks who will be inspired to join the fight to stop HIV in their community! #peacecorpslesotho #peacecorps #mural #HIV

(via peacecorpsjourney)

Peace Corps Lesotho mural HIV HIV/AIDS Stop AIDS Fight AIDS End AIDS art health

Aug 19, 2015

“SIDA (AIDS) Awareness 5K IV Participants await the celebration following the AIDS 5K in Guinea.”

AIDS SIDA AIDS awareness runners running race celebration Fight AIDS End AIDS AIDS free generation Guinea Peace Corps

Aug 02, 2015

SIDA (AIDS) Awareness 5K Local Kankan (Guinea) residents compete in a 5K race to raise awareness for AIDS.

Guinea Peace Corps AIDS runners race 5K competition Fight AIDS AIDS free generation SIDA AIDS Awareness

Jul 28, 2015

“This photo was taken at a school in central Swaziland in November of 2011. The students had been exposed to HIV messages for years, but this was their first interactive lesson. The lesson (and subsequent lessons) were very successful. Students had a lot of fun and were very open to new ideas by the end of the sessions.”

Swaziland HIV/AIDS students laughter kids education health Fight AIDS AIDS free generation

Jul 19, 2015

“PCVs Justin Wellins, Peter Seebart and Peter Tyliszczak, of the HIV/AIDS Speak the Truth Football Tournament held a sensitization of HIV/AIDS on June 20, 2013, in The Gambia, West Africa. During the training basic HIV/AIDS information is shared with 7 football teams participating in the tournament. At the end of the day of the day, the football team tied a single ribbon around their wrist. They were all connected – they are a team. And it will take this team and many others, being connected, to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. But, after the tournament, they went their different ways. Because we did not want them to forget, we asked each of them to wear this red string around their wrist as a reminder. When people ask them about the red string, they can share with them what they learned, what they know and what they believe. When they look at the string they can remember they have the power to protect themselves and others from HIV.”

The Gambia Peace Corps HIVAIDS health Peace Corps Volunteer Fight AIDS West Africa

Jul 12, 2015

“Holistic Care I took this photo during my first support group with adolescents infected with HIV. The support group took place in Guyana. Participants were asked to write questions or topics relating to their medication and put them in a box. We discussed each of the notes with the group.”

Guyana Peace Corps HIV/AIDS health Fight AIDS

Jul 11, 2015

“The creation of support groups and training peer educators for people living with HIV/AIDS is a valuable and often underfunded effort. These groups are a valuable, ‘safe-space’ where people can find a chance to be open about their status, learn information relevant to their health needs free of stigma and discrimination, and to build trusting relationships with their peers—and ultimately these groups are gatherings which allow everyone to enjoy the life we have and have fun together now. This photo was taken during a three day training for people living with HIV/AIDS who are to be trained as peer educators in the Upper East, in Ghana. This was an impromptu dance which started with Volunteers and participants during a break in the presentations. Dance is an important cultural practice and each tribe has its own dances. It was good to share different traditions as well as have fun together.”

Ghana Peace Corps Peace Corps Ghana HIV/AIDS AIDS support dance friendship health Stop AIDS Fight AIDS

Jun 16, 2015