BASSETERRE St. Kitts, October 27th 2011 (SKNIS) - This year, on the local front, the World AIDS Campaign is set to take on more of a community spirit, as it is being held under the theme, “It Takes a Village to Fight HIV/AIDS.”
 
This theme will be pictorially displayed by the Federation’s Grades 5 and 6 students who designed several calendars which will be on sale for $11 by December 14.  Katharine Powell, a member of the United States Peace Corps who volunteers with the National Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (NACHA), informed the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service that the calendar-making activity was spearheaded by two United States Peace Corp volunteers, Millicent Nash and Kimson Bryant who are working with the Ministry of Education.
 
Ms. Nash and Mr. Bryant revealed that the backdrop to the art competition was a National AIDS Secretariat workshop that was held for primary school counselors. The aim of the training session was to establish a partnership with counselors to ensure that a unified and effective HIV/AIDS prevention message was presented to Grades 5 and 6 students.  This included sharing information and consulting with the staff health educators in order to create effective methods of presenting the prevention message to the mentioned age group.  An art competition was thought to fill these requirements.
 
Nash and Bryant spearheaded the contest and so met with Grades 5 and 6 students of 18 primary schools in St. Kitts and encouraged them to take part.  Ms. Powell enthused that several expressive bits of artwork were created and the winning piece will be placed on the cover of the calendar, while the runners up will be featured on specific pages of the calendar.  The children were given an incentive to participate.  The winner will receive US$75.00, 1st place US$50.00, and 2nd place US$25.00. The general public can preorder calendars by calling 467-1233, and they will also be available for sale at the National Testing Day, December 14, in Independence Square.
 
“The calendar brings awareness to the epidemic through an artistic lens while helping to educate children with the correct information regarding this virus,” Ms. Powell emphasized.  “This is important because they will be the driving force in controlling and hopefully eradicating this scourge.  They hold the hope for this community.”
 
Other activities of the National AIDS Campaign include its Launch on Tuesday, November 01; Guest Spots on local radio programmes; the Ride the Bus event from November 8 – 11 and December 19 – 23; and HIV/AIDs will be the theme of the Island Expressions scheduled for December 01, World AIDS Day.  There will also be a Talk Show on ZIZ TV on December 05, the World AIDS March on December 02; and a Whistle Stop on December 12.  A special attraction of the National Testing Day on December 14 is the chance to win an I-Pad2.

*************************
DISCLAIMER
 

This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not  correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers