Youth
from 130 countries learned more about HIV/AIDS while participating
in Universiade,
an international sporting and cultural festival, in Turkey in
August 2005.
Universiade is the world's second largest sports event after
the Olympic Games, arranged by the International University
Sports Federation every two years in different countries. The
Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay), is mainly focusing on HIV/AIDS
youth action this year with the Come
closer…campaign, and used this opportunity to reach
youth from all parts of the world to raise their level of HIV/AIDS
awareness and knowledge.
The global Come
closer…campaign, of the Federation calls for a closer
collaboration with people living with HIV/AIDS. Materials for
the campaign, a collaboration project between the International
Federation, Turkish Red Crescent Society and Saatchi & Saatchi
Turkey, address the most common myths in a fun and colourful
way. The campaign aims to have a positive impact on the values,
beliefs and attitudes that fuel stigma.
This year the 23rd Summer Universiade took place in Izmir, a
western city in Turkey, between the 11th and 21st of August.
It reached a record level of participation, as more than 7,000
athletes from 130 countries around the world turning it into
the biggest university games ever. Thousands of youngsters came
from Turkey and other countries to watch the games.
Eight dynamic HIV/AIDS volunteers, all medical students in their
early twenties, came from Ankara to Izmir to support Kizilay’s
information dissemination activities.
Emrah Seyhoglu (20), a medical student in Hacettepe University,
was one of the volunteers. A very energetic Kizilay HIV/AIDS
volunteer, his interest in volunteerism comes from his family.
His father is a regular blood donor of Kizilay who has even
received a silver medal from Kizilay for his 25th donation.
During the event, Emrah’s days started pretty early, helping
Kizilay staff setting up the information tent. Having prepared
the boots and the materials to be distributed, he then reviewed
the daily programme find the time and location of the games.
Leaving the tent, he would wait at the main entrance of the
stadiums or sports centres to distribute HIV/AIDS information.
Emrah says he enjoys chatting with people rather than just giving
the brochures out, and before talking about the HIV/AIDS activities
of Kizilay he chitchatted about the games. Then, he handed over
a set of HIV/AIDS brochures, postcards and bookmarks with a
smile.
Emrah’s first experience with Kizilay was at Bolu youth
camp last year, where he received a one-day training on HIV/AIDS.
Being a medical student with a trainer’s certificate on
reproductive health, he decided to join the Kizilay HIV/AIDS
peer-educators group and work at youth camps.
When he talks about the trainings at these camps his enthusiasm
can be read from his voice. “It is such a great feeling
to share all my knowledge with the others,” he says. “Especially
when they ask questions, showing that they are interested in
learning. I really like training activities, especially at youth
camps.”
Elcin Tasci (21) is another dynamic volunteer. She attended
a Kizilay youth camp six years ago. “I received great
services from Kizilay,” she says. “Now I feel that
it is my turn to give it back as a volunteer.”
She started volunteering for Kizilay’s blood donor recruitment
programme at a social club of her university. Then she joined
the biology group of her university for Kizilay HIV/AIDS peer-education
activities.
When youngsters stopped by the Kizilay tent during the Universiade,
she encouraged them in a friendly way to pay more attention
to the HIV/AIDS materials, saying: “Come closer! You can
learn more if you like!”
With the world youth coming closer to HIV/AIDS issues, the Kizilay
volunteers are already the champions of the summer games, and
they continue running with their good will and great enthusiasm
in their HIV/AIDS dissemination work.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Emrah
says that he thinks that the Turkis people's attitued
to AIDS have changed: "Before, Turkish people were so
hesitant to talk about it," he says. "Recently
it has slightly changed. Now, especially youth are talking
about it more freely. I think the media and Kizilay made
this possible." |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Elcin does her studies in English and enjoyed approaching
peers from the different countries during the Kizilay
HIV/AIDS youth activities at Universiade. |
|
News
