Food for thought: "God won't judge our exploits... but our motive behind it!"
Fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
“My interest to embark on an HIV project grew when I saw how young people are the most affected by HIV. I feel that as part of my contribution to the emergence of an HIV-free population, I can help by first finding out more about this virus and then disseminating this knowledge to other young people who share in my vision or are otherwise interested in saving humanity.” Jennifer, 20 years old
Jennifer lives in Nigeria, where HIV/AIDS gets a lot of attention. But even though the issue is all over the media, Jennifer knows that young people still engage in high-risk behavior that could expose them to HIV. “Being informed is one thing,” she says, “but being well informed is another.”
As an intern at Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria, a media resource centre on HIV/AIDS and reproductive health, Jennifer has learned all about HIV and other diseases and is determined to share this knowledge with other young people. She is busy organising youth-based projects, including an upcoming roundtable with both youth advocates and young people living with HIV to discuss ways of achieving behavioral change.
MDG 6 aims to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other deadly diseases by 2015. Jennifer hopes to build a network of young people who will be fully committed to sharing their knowledge and working together to see the emergence of an HIV-free population.
“Working towards the good of everyone is a passion-driven thing that goes beyond personal interest,” says Jennifer. “I am happy to see so many young people both at home and abroad who recognize the importance of volunteering and dedicating their time and skills towards building a fairer world.”
http://www.unicef.org/voy/takeaction/takeaction_2366.html
http://www.unicef.org/voy/speakout/speakout_564.html
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Saturday, September 09, 2006
A bit of inspiration...
Hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength. -- -- What are your dreams, your hopes, your ambitions? Now is the time to follow them with the passion that you know you have. Now is the time for action, for commitment, for purpose. Putting it off until later will only cheat you out of what you could have become. Do it, be it, live it now. It's the grandest opportunity you could ever imagine.
"Necessity may be the mother of invention, but play is certainly the father."
- Roger von Oech
We all need to be inspired don't we? Well, here are a few Words of Inspiration to Brighten-Up Your Day. And if you like them, and they cheer you up, why not pass them on to a few of your friends ...
Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.
How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?
If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Pass it on!
Hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength. -- -- What are your dreams, your hopes, your ambitions? Now is the time to follow them with the passion that you know you have. Now is the time for action, for commitment, for purpose. Putting it off until later will only cheat you out of what you could have become. Do it, be it, live it now. It's the grandest opportunity you could ever imagine.
"Necessity may be the mother of invention, but play is certainly the father."
- Roger von Oech
We all need to be inspired don't we? Well, here are a few Words of Inspiration to Brighten-Up Your Day. And if you like them, and they cheer you up, why not pass them on to a few of your friends ...
Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.
How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?
If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Pass it on!
THEY ARE ALL OUR CHILDREN by Steve Goodier
There are few things in this life more difficult to experience than the loss of one's child. Jim Wallis, in Who Speaks For God? (Delacorte Press, 1996) tells about a sad and terrifying incident that occurred during the tragic war in Sarajevo a few years ago.
A reporter who was covering the violence in the middle of the city saw a little girl fatally shot by a sniper.The reporter threw down his pad and pencil and rushed to the aid of the man who was now holding the child. He helped them both into his car and sped off to a hospital."Hurry, my friend," the man urged, "my child is still alive." A moment or two later he pleaded, "Hurry, my friend, my child is still breathing." In little later he said, "Hurry, my friend, my child is still warm."When they got to the hospital, the little girl was gone. "This is a terrible task for me," the man said to the reporter. "I must go tell her father that his child is dead. He will be heartbroken."The reporter was amazed. He looked at the grieving man and said, "I thought she was your child."The man replied, "No, but aren't they all our children?"Jim Wallis adds this: "Yes, they are all our children. They are also God's children as well, and he has entrusted us with their care in Sarajevo, in Somalia, in New York City, in Los Angeles, in my hometown of Perry, Georgia, and...in Washington, D.C.
"What a fascinating question: Aren't they all our children? Under our roof and across the street? In the next town, the next state, the next country? In Europe and North America? In Africa and Asia? In prosperous nations and developing countries? In the jungles of South America and on sandy island coastlands?Aren't they all our children? Ours to feed? Ours to clothe? Ours to educate? Ours to keep safe? But mostly, ours to love?"If we have no peace," said Mother Teresa, "it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." If we belong to each other, they are indeed our children. Ours to care for.Is there a greater privilege?
__________Steve Goodier's books & newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com
There are few things in this life more difficult to experience than the loss of one's child. Jim Wallis, in Who Speaks For God? (Delacorte Press, 1996) tells about a sad and terrifying incident that occurred during the tragic war in Sarajevo a few years ago.
A reporter who was covering the violence in the middle of the city saw a little girl fatally shot by a sniper.The reporter threw down his pad and pencil and rushed to the aid of the man who was now holding the child. He helped them both into his car and sped off to a hospital."Hurry, my friend," the man urged, "my child is still alive." A moment or two later he pleaded, "Hurry, my friend, my child is still breathing." In little later he said, "Hurry, my friend, my child is still warm."When they got to the hospital, the little girl was gone. "This is a terrible task for me," the man said to the reporter. "I must go tell her father that his child is dead. He will be heartbroken."The reporter was amazed. He looked at the grieving man and said, "I thought she was your child."The man replied, "No, but aren't they all our children?"Jim Wallis adds this: "Yes, they are all our children. They are also God's children as well, and he has entrusted us with their care in Sarajevo, in Somalia, in New York City, in Los Angeles, in my hometown of Perry, Georgia, and...in Washington, D.C.
"What a fascinating question: Aren't they all our children? Under our roof and across the street? In the next town, the next state, the next country? In Europe and North America? In Africa and Asia? In prosperous nations and developing countries? In the jungles of South America and on sandy island coastlands?Aren't they all our children? Ours to feed? Ours to clothe? Ours to educate? Ours to keep safe? But mostly, ours to love?"If we have no peace," said Mother Teresa, "it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." If we belong to each other, they are indeed our children. Ours to care for.Is there a greater privilege?
__________Steve Goodier's books & newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com
Friday, September 08, 2006
A-Z of HIV and AIDS for Young PeopleA: Avoid pre-marital/casual sex
B: Be faithful to your spouse
C: Consistent condom use with your partner
D: Don’t share Sharp Objects like razors, Clippers, Needles, and syringes etc.
E: Encourage and care for People Living with HIV and AIDS
F: Feasible HIV campaign ideas should be shared with the right people and not shun
G: Get tested and know your HIV status
H: HIV does not kill
I: Insist on sterilized clippers and other sharp objects if you must share
J: Just don’t ignore simple safety measures
K: Kick against stigmatizing people living with HIV (PLWH)
L: Learn how to live happily and stay alive even if you are HIV positive
M: Make HIV treatment available and affordable for PLWH by advocating for them
N: No knowledge is a waste; learn new facts about HIV today.
O: Operating an “I don’t care attitude” puts you at risk of being infected
P: Protect yourself and protect others by living responsibly.
Q: Question HIV issues and policy if you are in doubt
R: Remember HIV and AIDS are two different things
S: Sex education is a topic you must never shy away from
T: Talk to a trained and experienced HIV counselor for more information about HIV
U: Underestimating your chances of contracting HIV with risk behaviour is risky/Unite for Children, unite against AIDS!!!
V: Verify your first HIV test result by taking another test
W: With media support, accurate information about HIV can be effectively disseminated
X: Xerox A-Z of HIV and AIDS to other young people
Y: Yes! We can have an emergence of a HIV free youth population if we work together
Z: Zipping up is still the most effective & reliable way of Protecting yourself from HIV.
In the fight against HIV and AIDS, Young people should not fold their hands and seat back to watch the future move on without them. They should get involve and self-develop themselves by keying into the numerous positive opportunities and wide range of information made available locally and internationally. Take action- make a difference!
Cheers
Jennifer Ehidiamen
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Calabar.......
My third day in Calabar, a neat city/town. Okay, two things I have always been told about Calabar:
- The town is NEAT and the Governor has done a lot= True
- Old/elderly women here love to dress in skirt and not wrapper= True. At least, the ones I have seen are smartly all dressed in skirt...lol.
Okay.... what else????????? will have to run off now.... dis cyber cafe is so slow...I mean the server/ISP... will talk more l8tr.
Cheers
Friday, September 01, 2006
Happy New Month!
Its september everyone! A beautiful month indeed. A new door of opportunity and possibility is opened, we must tap into that grace of God that makes a man function without struggle, excel and shine on.
Enjoy this new begining, live, laugh, achieve, sow and reap! You are more than you have become and the best is yet to come!!!
I need to know
I hunger to know more
When I lay my head at night
I hunger to know more
When I wake up in the morn’
I praise and worship with my Bible
Searching hungrily to know more
To know how to give without remembering
And take without ever forgetting
To know how to keep the friends I make
And not break the chain
To know to in wisdom grow
In stature and in wealth
To know how to shine on in peace
Without blowing out others’ beam
I am not where I used to be
But certainly not where I want to be
So I need to know as muchas my hungry mind can take
(C) Jennifer Ehidiamen - culled from "The Dancing flood"
Its september everyone! A beautiful month indeed. A new door of opportunity and possibility is opened, we must tap into that grace of God that makes a man function without struggle, excel and shine on.
Enjoy this new begining, live, laugh, achieve, sow and reap! You are more than you have become and the best is yet to come!!!
I need to know
I hunger to know more
When I lay my head at night
I hunger to know more
When I wake up in the morn’
I praise and worship with my Bible
Searching hungrily to know more
To know how to give without remembering
And take without ever forgetting
To know how to keep the friends I make
And not break the chain
To know to in wisdom grow
In stature and in wealth
To know how to shine on in peace
Without blowing out others’ beam
I am not where I used to be
But certainly not where I want to be
So I need to know as muchas my hungry mind can take
(C) Jennifer Ehidiamen - culled from "The Dancing flood"
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