TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
Bahamas Blog International
Bahamas Blog International
Bahamas Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living [YAPL] Battle HIV/AIDS in the Bahamian Society
Related to country: Bahamas

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

More Work Ahead For AIDS Group:
By Rolanda Epstein -
Nassau, Bahamas:

Although Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living [YAPL] are making positive strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Chairman and CEO of the non-profit organization Keith Kemp says the group still has a whole more work to do in 2008.

Mr. Kemp said in working closely with young persons in the community he perceives them as being very open and honest about the deadly disease. He said many of the myths young people believe about HIV/AIDS have been cleared up through forums YAPL holds at church meeting, schools and civic meetings.

He also said through a continuation of educational programmes, young people are becoming more receptive and open towards persons who are HIV-positive.

"I think they are now being able to see HIV as an ordinary chronic illness in terms of cancer and diabetes," Mr. Kemp told the Journal.

He said the problem is that young persons are not applying the information they receive about HIV/AIDS in their day-to-day lives.

Mr. Kemp said with the help of YAPL and other youth programmes the fight against HIV/AIDS can contiue.

He said, however, that YAPL needs to target people ages 15 to 29 as it relates to HIV/AIDS, teenage sexuality and sexually transmitted infections.

"I think networking with the US Embassy and other foreign partners from around the world gives us more flavor and [provides us with a better] approach [in finding more ways] we can look at targeting our young people as it relates to HIV/AIDS."

YAPL is also looking at developing more "behaviour change" programmes to address young people with behavior issues, be it sexual behaviour, anger management or disciplinary problems, said Mr. Kemp.

He added that for 2008 YAPL would be completing its behaviour change model as it relates to developing a tool for youth leaders to use in youth programmes geared toward behavioural change.

"YAPL have been networking with organization such as the Ranfurly Home and Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home conducting its behavioural change program," Mr. Kemp further explained.

"The [YAPL] programme is not just about education, we are also about research, development and mentorship."

Mr. Kemp said in 2007, 36 new Youth Ambassadors were inducted into the program along with 41 new Royal Knights [junior youth ambassadors].

"I think our mentorship programme is a big part of our programme helping [us] to look at some of the issues we have been addressing with young persons," said Mr. Kemp.

"The benefit of having a youth programme such as YAPL is that young persons relates to young persons. It gives us a better understanding as to what we need to address as young persons among our peers."

On Friday Mr. Kemp and actress/singer Emmy Rossum toured the AIDS center along with US Ambassador Ned Siegel.

While touring the centre the threesome exchanged ideas about HIV/AIDS programmes geared towards young people.

Mr. Kemp told the Journal the two organizations are also looking at coming together to foster campaigns like the "Kick Me" campaign, which is a campaign Ms. Rossum led in the US.

Young person around the US wore t-shirts with the word "Kick Me" at the back of it. Ms. Rossum visited school around the US educating students about HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Kemp said an exchange program will be implemented between the US and the Bahamas were members of the YAPL will go to the US and for a variety of training programmes.

2 January 2007

January 2, 2008 | 9:26 PM Comments  0 comments

You must be logged in to add tags.


Dennis Dames's Profile


Latest Posts
Meatless Mondays: Do...
Regional integration...
Call for unity as the...
Slow Down: How Our...
The situation in Honduras

Monthly Archive
December 1969
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009

Change Language


Tags Archive
america american bahamas bahamians bush caribbean crime cuba development economic enfusion engagement global health ict4d individualeconomy international investment networkbuiding obama organisationalchange people personaldevelopment political president socialentrepreneurship trade war world

Links
A+ Links Int'l
Bahamas Blog
Bahamas Dames
Bahamas Hotels
Bahamas Search
Bahamian WebRing
Blog Directory
Blogadr
BlogExplosion
Cheap Int'l Calling Cards
Crooks Blog
Dating Network
Free Paid Web Directory
LS Blogs
Politics Blogs
Top 100 Women Websites
Top Web Blogs
Vote For Me


695688 views
Important Disclaimer