Date: Tue Nov 07 2006 - 10:26:06 AST
WUNRN
http://www.wunrn.com
Direct Link to Project Report & Photos:
http://content.ippf.org/output/ORG/files/9972.pdf
Website Link & Download:
http://www.ippf.org/ContentController.aspx?ID=9890
Download the full 'Passion and Portraits' PDF (1.4MB)>>
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Passion & Portraits
Young Women Raise HIV Awareness in South Asia
A photography project gives a new approach to engaging women
with the realities of HIV/AIDS
In 2005, our South Asia Regional Office (IPPF SARO) invited 10
young women to travel outside their own countries for the first time for an
HIV/AIDS-awareness photography project. The 16 to 20-year-olds came to India
in partnership with five of our Member Associations* and developed skills in
HIV/AIDS peer education and photography over a four-day workshop.
The ‘Passion and Portraits’ initiative was developed in order to
engage young women in the realities of HIV/AIDS, as well as to use creative
photography to empower them with the skills and knowledge to help educate
their respective communities. The participating women were all from South
Asian countries that demonstrated a particular vulnerability to HIV.
For South Asian women, being a photographer by profession or
even as a hobby is very uncommon, and many of the women had limited
experience with photography and cameras. They were shy about taking pictures
of people and were encouraged to discuss their feelings and attitudes
towards photography, and embrace the empowerment opportunities within this
creative field.
After technical training on photography and a history of the
camera, several field trips were organized for the women to put into
practice what they had learnt - enabling them to gain experience and
confidence in taking photographs.
Having come to the sessions with many misconstrued ideas about
HIV/AIDS, active group discussion and sensitization by the facilitators
helped to breakdown previously held beliefs and enable greater understanding
of the facts surrounding HIV and AIDS. The sessions provided education on
technical issues including basic modes of transmission, how to get tested
and the implications of testing, how to stay negative, the complex issues
around treatment and how anti-retroviral medication works.
Each participant returned to their respective country with a
camera, six rolls of film and a photography assignment aimed to make use of
their peer education knowledge and skills.
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Read more about this project by downloading the PDF from the
link at the bottom of this page.
Our sincere thanks go to the South Asia Regional Office and its
Member Associations and to Kodak India Inc
*Family Planning Association of Pakistan, Family Planning
Association of India, Family Planning Association of Islamic Republic of
Iran, Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka, Society of Health Education
Maldives.
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Download the full 'Passion and Portraits' PDF (1.4MB)>>
Passion and Portraits - an HIV/AIDS project in South Asia
Related Links
Read about the Bridge of Hope Project in the Mekong Region, SE
Asia
Go to information about the ICAAP 2005 HIV/AIDS conference
