Jean-Luc Martinage, IFRC in Cali, Colombia
Weekends are not all about relaxing and going out with friends for Marilyn. The 17-year-old Calita (the way inhabitants from Colombia’s third largest city Cali are commonly called) puts on her Colombian Red Cross uniform and becomes the regional HIV project coordinator, spending several hours working on HIV programmes with the most vulnerable in her city.
There is a lot of excitement when we meet with Marilyn as she is about to start another HIV awareness session surrounded by more than 20 lively and smiling young boys and girls from El Calvario, one of Cali’s poor neighbourhood. “This part of town has many of the characteristics of urban problems faced in Latin American cities,” explains Dr Yacid Estrada, coordinator of the Colombian Red Cross HIV programme. “The neighbourhood is filled with poor unemployed families, homeless people living in a mix of violence, alcohol and drugs.”
A safe heaven
In this difficult environment, the “Samaritanos de la calle” social centre is a safe haven where teenagers attend activities including HIV prevention sessions. “We provide them with basic information on HIV, show them how to use a condom and, as importantly, we are there to listen to them, share their stories and fears and try to support them in the best possible way”, Marilyn explains, surrounded by some of the 30 Colombian Red Cross volunteers involved in the HIV project.
“Children and teenagers living in this area are highly vulnerable”, she adds. “Young girls are often offered money for sexual intercourse when they have very little idea of sexuality and the risk they could face by having unprotected sex. Since there are many drug users in this part of the city, they also risk HIV infection and other diseases through injected drugs and having unprotected sex with injecting drug users.”
From first aid to HIV
When asked why she decided to get involved as a Red Cross volunteer, Marilyn tells us that it all began when she was only 11 years old and saw a newspaper advert about Red Cross first aid courses. She asked her parents for more information and they allowed her to follow the courses. She started with first aid and then, as she grew older, she became interested in the HIV programme.
“I liked the idea of using prevention and work closely with local communities. But we are more than just volunteers involved in HIV prevention activities. We are also there to listen to their doubts and concerns, as well as advising them when necessary. Some children are abused and it is important for them to share the problems they face at home or in their neighbourhood.”
HIV prevention activities take place in several social centres around the city, as well as in schools, and sometimes volunteers also go to universities when they are asked. Most of the teenagers that are reached through the programme are between the ages of 11 and 17.
Building close links
Marilyn and the other volunteers have built real links with the people living in El Calvario. Colombian Red Cross doctors are also coming to the social centre on a regular basis, providing a very useful assistance for a community who cannot afford any sophisticated medical treatment.
“Obviously, our mission is not easy but I am glad to help my community and I am so happy when I see them change their behaviour: Some of the teenagers we met in El Calvario are even thinking of doing just like me and also becoming volunteers. Isn’t it great?” she concluded with a smile.