SHREEPAL SAPTASAGAR
HIV/AIDS coordinator, Maharashtra, India
September 1, 2008
Amazing actions ...
It was a pleasant surprise for all of us when, as I was conducting a UNICEF-supported workshop for people living with HIV, I received a call from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Delhi asking whether we were interested in participating in a video documentation training program for people living with HIV. The aim of the program, was to train people living with HIV in script writing, acting, video shooting, editing and screening of documentaries so as to showcase success stories from HIV-positive people. I asked the UNDP officials to call back after one hour so as to make a better decision on this.
As a trainer and motivator, I was fully charged-up by this invitation but I was also a little worried. At the end of my capacity-building workshop, I discussed the phone call with all the participants and asked for their feedback. It was amazing that most of them came forward to take part in the project. Immediately, I rang up the UNDP officials and conveyed our readiness to be a part of the video documentation initiative.
Normally, people living with HIV are victims of social stigma and try to hide their HIV status. I wondered about the enthusiastic response I received and tried to find out the reasons behind it. I then realized that most of the participants had undergone a training session supported by UNICEF called ‘Young People Life Skills Education Training’ the previous month, and I believe this had a transformatory effect on them.
There are millions of people living with HIV and AIDS who need support to stand on their own feet. Cost-effective, innovative ideas make lots of difference in their lives. Let's come together to help them out.
