HIV/AIDS:'Journey to Awareness - End Discrimination"

Poster

Banner

Photos of Journey

Journey to Awareness was the Publicity Committee’s project for the club to promote the awareness of HIV/AIDS as well of the message of ending discrimination. This idea was conceptualized at the 2nd Quarter District Conference by Pres Lorna Gooden, Opt Donna Wanliss and The Publicity Chair as we admired our banner which we prepared for the ORAAW 2007 District Competition.

It was decided that the banner (8ft x 4ft) was really too beautiful and its message too important to be kept rolled up in a corner only to be brought out on special occasions. As a result it was agreed that we should target business places to host the banner in their organization for a week - especially businesses where children congregate.

The Journey to Awareness program was kicked off on March 1, 2007 where it was viewed nationally on the very popular current affairs program – Your Issues Live (TVJ). The Publicity Chair, "Gina Rey Forest", was invited on the program in her capacity as a performance poet to perform one her pieces related to HIV/AIDS. The opportunity was seized to ask the producer if this medium could be used to start the Journey to Awareness program and they happily agreed. As a matter of fact they gave the banner prominence by placing it on the fence behind the stage so that it could be in the view of the camera and the audience at all times. It is interesting to note that the program was re-broadcast and sections of our banner were repeatedly shown in close-up. Due to the late start of the show, the Publicity Chair was not interviewed about the project – however afterwards she was interviewed by Mr David Muhammad of the Jamaica News Network

The Journey began in the Mandela Park – Half Way Tree – as mentioned earlier. It is important to note that the “Your Issues Live” program has a wide sponsorship base as a result of its large number of viewers. After the program, which lasted for about one hour, we distributed posters to the public and I must point out that they went like ‘hot bread’. Many teachers were present and took posters for their schools as well as others took for their youth centers, and nurses took for their health centers. However, due to the rush we were unable to get the names of the various institutions.

Of note – is that one man came up to Publicity Chair and after receiving a poster said that he was HIV positive and that he loved the message of both our banner and poster. He took some to distribute in his community.

We distributed approximately 150 posters. In attendance were: Pres Lorna, Opt Sylvia "Gina Rey Forest", Opt Dianne, VP Michael and Opt Dudley who took pictures.