Beginning and More

After spending close to a year trying to find an internship, I came across the Crossed Red Ribbon Alert Program..A program that gives the opportunity to act as international trainees and educate the youth on HIV/AIDS. I think by that point the decision was very clear: Its time I packed my bags and take the never ending 32 hour flight to Johor Bahru. So here I am, in the very colorful, multi cultural, food loving, sun bathing country of Malaysia. Hello everyone, my name is Nitika Wahi and I am one of the interns who traveled all the way from Canada to take part in the CRRA program in Malaysia, Johor Bahru.

A little about the program. The CRRA program was created by AISEC Malaysia (Largest Student Run Organization in the world: http://www.aiesec.org/AI) in order to educate the youth on HIV/AIDS. We are currently being mentored by UTM (University Teknologi Malaysia) who has been a big supporter of abolishing HIV/AIDS stigma in Johor Bahru. The support and guidance of the students at UTM has allowed us interns to give back to the community and as trainees, we are very thankful to them. Once again, Thank You.

The CRRA program aims to respond to the ignorance, stigma and discrimination created towards HIV/AIDS victims and the virus itself. As interns, our job is to conduct workshops at secondary schools in Johor Bahru and educate the younger generation to make safe and better choices. This peer-to-peer education gives the students the opportunity to gain important information about this deadly virus so that when the time comes, they are able to make sound choices. As interns, we also volunteer at the Intan Life Zone.

Intan Life Zone offers various services to communities in need and provides a shelter home, drop-in centres and street feeding programs. They also provide counseling and referral services for people affected with this virus. Our job as international trainees is to visit them twice a week, spend time with them and contribute in any way possible. From teaching basic English to origami, from drawing to educating them about different cultures, residents are given the option to enjoy the little pleasures of life. This also allows us as trainees to learn from them about life, the hardships, the pain and suffering but also the strength shown by these residents. I think its fair to say, that we as trainees learn more from each session than the residents. And yes, it can get very tough at times, emotionally, but nothing compared to the hardships faced by the residents.

Currently we are two interns working on this project, Marie(From Japan) and myself (Canada), and to say the least, we have our hands full. I think the most important part for both of us has been working on this project together and coming up with our personal objectives or things we would like to educate the youth on when it comes to HIV/AIDS. As trainees, I think it is safe to say that we both have worked together to create a learning session that brings together some of the most important issues facing the world today, issues facing the youth of Malaysia and the potential devastating impact this can have on the Malaysian society. I think the most rewarding part of this experience has been when the youth approach us at the end of the presentation and want more information about this program, our life and the reason we are doing this. And to say that these are young children who have probably never heard of HIV/AIDS.

I think one of the major issues that interns have faced and are currently facing when running this program has been breaking the conservative barriers in Johor Bahru. Many students, teachers and schools are not very keen on educating the students on HIV/AIDS since sex before marriage is against their religion (Muslim). This has been an obstacle throughout the program but as international trainees we wish to encourage students to ask questions, talk about the issue and realize that this is not embarrassing but a matter of life, without overwhelming them of the situation.

To say the least, we have a long way to go but I think on a personal level we all have grown so much from this experience in just a few weeks. From the shelter home to the young students, I have realized sometimes a little goes a long way. And some of these students really do look up to you and you are seen as a mentor. I think this has been a personal challenge as slowly the realization passes through you that our words might very well affect their lives and maybe someday they will think of us and make the right choice. Or save a life. Or save their own.

I think that is the point of this program.

But realizing this fact can be a little scary. If not, a lot.