Report on GSF 2006 in Glasgow
Over two hundred packed the City Chamber’s banqueting hall in
Glasgow
for the first ever national conference of the Global Student Forum in
Scotland
. The event was hosted by Christian Aid
Scotland
and teachers had brought students from as far as
Elgin
in the North to Kelso in the South. Twenty two schools were represented and a waiting list of others who left it too late! There was a good mix of male and female which added to the activities and we hope will send a balanced message to their schools when they get back.
Throughout the day the students experienced the activities and the presentations which they can now use in their own schools – from knowing the facts to the stigma tree- and each went off with a training pack the knowledge that there is support both from within their schools and at Christian Aid. Already we have heard of a proposed assembly next week and other groups ‘raring to go’.
The highlight of the morning was meeting the peer educators from
Malawi
– eight young people who are in
Scotland
for two weeks as part of a Scottish Executive funded project. The showed how they use traditional songs and dance to spread the message about HIV. They also demonstrated their dramas and shared some of their one to one counselling skills. The reserved Scots weren’t sure if they could rise to the song and dance but certainly shared their enthusiasm for getting the message across.
The afternoon began with Winnie Ssanyu Seruma sharing her experience of learning that she was HIV positive and you could have heard a pin drop – everyone sensed the privilege of hearing this story and was awed by Winnie’s courage and honesty.
And finally, Maxwell Kapachawo from
Zimbabwe
shared the new message of SAVE which the African Council on HIV is promoting. Safer practices, Available medication, Voluntary counselling. Education for empowerment.
To see more photos of the day, please click here
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