Last week I participated in an HIV?AIDS workshop titled "Men As Partners". The workshop was facilitated by two guys, Conroy and Michael, from Jamaica's Ashe Performing Edutainment Company. The workshop was phenomenal. I have only attended one other 3 day workshop in my life that concluded leaving the participants wishing that it didn't have to come to an end, and that was the Landmark forum. The workshop was interactive and elicited rich group discussion.
On the last day of the workshop all the participants met with their island groups. There were 4 - 5 participants from each of the 5 Caribbean islands that were present, one Peace Corps Volunteer, the island APCD, and 2 - 3 locals involved in HIV/AIDS work. Our task is to put together an initiative that will involve more men in HIV/AIDS prevention on our island. My group, made up of me, Sharmon (APCD), and a man and woman from NAPS (National Aids Programming Secretariat) want to host a workshop for men who are fathers and create an ongoing dialogue around gender issues, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS. Our hope is to sensitize more men to the deeper issues that have the Caribbean be the 2nd hottest spot in the world for the spread of HIV/AIDS. We want men to be empowered to change their behavior, and we want fathers to be knowledgeable enough on these issues so that they can communicate openly with their sons about the said issues. YEY!!
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