12 schools win “stomp out stigma” Competition for World AIDS Day

With the aim of helping youths to youth increase compassion and reduce stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS, the Peace Corps-Guyana HIV/AIDS Task Force on organised a Poster and Poem Competition under the theme “Stomp out Stigma”.

World AIDS Day 2016 will be observed on Thursday under the theme; “Leadership. Commitment. Impact.”

Several primary and secondary schools in Guyana have been selected as winners of the U.S. Government PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief)-funded competition.

Over 500 students participated in the competition.

Peace Corps Volunteers chose 12 posters to be incorporated into a special 2017 AIDS Awareness Calendar, which will be shared with schools, health centers and other community partners.

Seven of the winners are:  Waramuri Primary – Region 1, Charity Primary – Region 2, Leonora Secondary – Region 3, the Cheshire Home – Region 4, New Amsterdam Secondary – Region 6, Tutorial Secondary – Region 6, and Muritaro Primary – Region 10.

Peace Corps Guyana continues to support HIV awareness and prevention efforts in Guyana through the recruitment of Peace Corps Response Volunteers, who bolster institutional strengthening of NGOs working with key affected populations; host training sessions on gender and diversity for local nursing students and tutors; and organise World AIDS Day activities.