World AIDS Day

So… you may be wondering how our work is coming along. Well, the cultural posts are far more interesting than our work so far, I'm afraid. Our main jobs at the Learning Resource Center (Kristin) and Aishalton District Hospital (Chris) are coming along just fine. In addition, all Peace Corps volunteers in Guyana work in the HIV and AIDS field. Guyana has the second highest infection rate in the Caribbean qualifies for President Bush’s PEPFAR funding (President’s Emergency Planning and Funding for AIDS Relief). The HIV and AIDS epidemic is concentrated mainly on the coast where most of the population lives. Here in the interior, HIV and AIDS epidemic is not yet spreading (that we know of), but we work hard to keep it that way.

Chris and I have decided that in order to address HIV and AIDS in Aishalton, we would plan a health fair for December 1^st, World AIDS Day. The theme for this year is “Universal Access and Human Rights”, a fitting theme for introducing it to Aishalton. We are very excited; we have written our first grant proposal and have received some funding through Peace Corps and the Red Cross.

Our plan for the health fair is to have people moving around and interacting with different games and activities concerning HIV and AIDS. We are trying to utilize as many community members as possible – the hospital staff, the Aishalton Youth Corps, church groups, and leaders. Some people with be doing skits to interact with others, others will be playing “Myths and Truths” or “Risk Factors”, and another group will be putting on a puppet show about “Anna Assertive”, a very assertive girl who knows how to say ‘no’ to peer pressure. We will also have HIV testing which is not regularly offered in Aishalton. Chris will be taking photos of the Amerindians dressed in traditional wear with bows and arrows. The pictures will be used to design posters with the theme “Be a warrior. Fight HIV” and used in the Amerindian villages throughout Guyana.

We’re really hoping for more support, or particularly, more active support, over the next few weeks as we prepare. We want to see more people volunteering, more people coming to our planning meetings. Please pray for our project, I truly believe we have the power to change behavior and save lives with this health fair. Pray for support, pray for a good turnout and most of all, pray that people learn something and apply it to their lives.

We are going in to Lethem to pick up our funding, spend it on supplies, and bring it back out. Safe journeys all around. Hope all’s well in your neck of the woods.

Chris and Kristin

The Bow and arrow dance

I'm pretty sure this one is the 'shake your groove thing dance'.
The swishy skirt dance.

The traditional cultures were celebrated all throughout the month of September. Not only were we able to see the celebrations here in Aishalton, but thanks to a well-timed conference in Lethem, we were able to see the regional celebrations as well. Here in the South, most of our Amerindians are from the Wapishana 'tribe', but at the regional celebrations, there were Wai-Wais, Machushis, and more. So, we were able to see a variety of outfits, hear new languages, and experience new dances.

This is a 'warashi', the traditional carrier for all things. It hauls cassava back from the farm, palm branches from the trees, the hammock for the trip, and produce from the neighbor's. It is certainly rapidly being replaced by large tubberware containers on the backs of motorbikes, but they are still around. It is a home-woven basket that is formed to the back, the weight placed on the head by a strap.

Mini traditional culture

A little taste of traditional Amerindian wear from the children of Aishalton, decked out for Amerindian Heritage Month (September). The first two are performers from the culture shows, the second two children decked out at the celebration market day. Aren't they amazing? Children are our future.

Some Garden - Pre Sowing

This is the pre sowing picture, eventually I'll put together one with the plants all coming out and bearing some harvest, of course time has a way of getting away from me.

Beauty

A blog in honor all things beautiful.

Photo credits to Chris.

Sh*t!

Our garden is looking SO GOOD. Finally planted: beds, rows, seeds, and more. I won't take any credit, Chris' been working HARD for a while, now. We were finally able to plant because we got a truckload of manure, this is Chris coming back from shoveling well... poop into the tractor. That's a fresh and clean husband if I ever saw one.