Since the Peace Corps will be assigning us to the HIV/AIDS Capacity Building project in Botswana, Tish and I are trying to learn all we can about HIV/AIDS. To that end we have looked for volunteer opportunities here in Atlanta that would help us lean about this disease. We have decided to volunteer with AID Atlanta.
AID Atlanta is a very well respected non-profit organization in Atlanta. It was formed in 1982 as a grass roots response to the devastating impact HIV/AIDS was having in Atlanta. AID Atlanta has approximately 100 employees, and 1000 volunteers, serving over 5,000 clients offering direct wide-ranging HIV services. The mission of AID Atlanta is to reduce new HIV infections and improve the quality of life of its members and the community by breaking barriers and building community.
Our goal is to learn as much as we can about HIV/AIDS, and at the same time observe the kind of programs and services they offer their clients and the education they offer the community. Hopefully some of what we learn will be useful when we begin our Peace Corps service in the HIV/AIDS Capacity Building project.
We probably will start our volunteering next week.
Last Thursday we went to the volunteer orientation and today we attended their “AIDS 101” Awareness and Action Seminar. AIDS 101 is considered the best AIDS volunteer training in the area. The program format consisted of lectures, special interest break-out sessions, and panel discussions. We learned a lot and look forward to volunteering with AID Atlanta.
That is going to be a great experience! as another HIV/AIDS invitee [Malawi] I look forward to hearing about what you learn and your perspective. Best of luck!!