The Red Project

Egypt , Malaysia and the Red Project ..

2011-08-22T17:08:00.000+08:00

Hello , this is osama mahmoud , A 4^th Year medical student in Cairo University . It has been exactly two weeks since my arrival to Malaysia and am falling in love with the beauty of the nature in this country .

Actually , I have never imagined that I will pass by that multi cultural experience when I left Cairo on the 6^th of August . But when I came here , Everything was different from Egypt , the people , the language ,, the lifestyles and once i was in KL Sentral i expected that this journey will be full of excitement .

The problem which I cannot avoid here in UKM Is the Ants and mosquitoes , and I remember on the first day I had a bottle of medication for Coughing , and I put it on my bureau , after 1 hour only , I found that the ants were drinking the bottle , ha ha.

Another problem is the Spicy food which you find here in almost all the Indian restaurants , and i`ll never forget my first experience my first experience with that kind of food . After breaking my fasting , I ordered Green Curry Soup and it was only one spoon and I felt that a bomb has just exploded in my brain . Ha ha,, from that time I learned that take care about the food i order in the next times .

Now we are working on The Redproject for HIV/AIDS , which aims to spread the awareness of HIV/AIDS among the youth via Workshops for high school students and conferences for college students , and next week will be the first Workshop for me which will different from any other workshops i have ever had in Egypt , Once with different people and in a different country with a different country .

This will be a new experience which I hope to gain a lot from it and to help the students to gain more information about HIV/AIDS and how to protect themselves from that Epidemic and to demonstrate the difference between HIV virus and AIDS disease . Also , another goal of that workshop which I hope we can spread , is that person living with HIV ( pL HIV ) are not always bad people because of the stigma and prejudice we have about HIV/AIDS Patients , you can deal with those pl HIV without being infected and those patients are victims of that damned virus.

I had once seen an HIV patient in Cairo during a visit to Fever Hospital , and his case was delayed with Kaposi Sarcoma and after two weeks only of this meeting I knew that he passed away . I felt pain because we couldn’t help those patients ,, so I hope that we can spread HIV/AIDS culture to keep the youth safe and Help PL HIV to have normal life without discrimination .

Finally ,, i`d like to say thank you to all the People here in UKM and all my friends from other LCs here in Malaysia for all the good time am having now with them in that beautiful country .

Osama Mahmoud

Visiting wakehouse - It is not an end

2011-02-04T16:13:00.001+08:00

We had a chance to go to a place called wakehouse - a place where the HIV patients stay. There are three wakehouses, for different kinds of patient - Men, women and children. The one that we visit was for women.

When we were on our way, the feeling of nervous and excitement was bumping harder and harder in my heart. We kept discussing what to do and what not to do during the visit. For example, not to be so straight forward and ask sensitive questions.
Finally, we arrived the place. The woman looked more energetic than we expected. She spoke pretty good English so it was easier for us to communicate with her. There were around 8 people waiting for us in the sitting room.

It was difficult to start as we did not know which type of questions would be offensive to them. So we asked some basic questions first, for instance, the age and the time that they discovered the existence of HIV. The atmosphere was getting better and better. Since not all of the patients were able to speak English, we had to ask a lady to translate for us.

A case I found really sad was the lady who spoke good English. She got HIV from her husband and she realized it after her husband had passed away. She still got the doubt whether her husband himself and his family knew it before they got married.
They even got a child and he was innocent. Fortunately, he was not HIV positive.
I was not feeling that sorry after I heard the rest of the story. The woman was having very positive attitude and energy. She had the courage to tell her family that she got HIV and so to her son as well. They accepted her and would visit her. Her son was getting married soon and would have a baby. I could feel the excitement and happiness from the woman and this is actually important for a HIV patient - to have positive attitude and energy.

I was impressed after visiting the wakehouse. The patient were much more positive than I expected. You will not feel sorry or sympathy for them. As living with HIV is not an end.

Oiley

My last week in UKM

2011-02-03T20:34:00.000+08:00

After spending more than five weeks in Malaysia, I find it hard to leave. During my stay I didn’t feel homesick because everyone made me feel home. Although I can’t wait to see my family, friends and my university, leaving was so hard. However staying in UKM in Malaysia was a real challenge, I learned a lot from this experience. Coming to a country doesn’t speak my first language, Arabic, being exposed to different life styles and traditions, meeting people from different backgrounds with different attitudes, getting out of my comfort zone and working in an international environment, gave another 10 year experience to my age.

During my five week stay in Malaysia, I learned and educated others about HIV AIDS, I met good and made new friends, I got the chance to see new places, I met different people but was able to tolerate and accept their thoughts. After this rich experience I feel more independent, more experienced problem solving, more adaptable to various conditions and more respectable of the others.

Hard times, sleepless nights and stressful moments were inevitable, but rather than breaking me, they made me. Hard times made me stronger and made me appreciate the value of time management.

When I am at my dear home, Egypt, I will always remember my first abroad country, the first lesson I learned, the first group I taught, about HIV, the first friend I met, the first mistake I did, the first dance, the first tear and the first laugh.

Hend El-Taher

My stressful week in UKM

2011-02-03T16:48:00.003+08:00

This week at work was so stressful. Several tasks were assigned to my communication department and to me in specific. One of them was to do a country presentation at work on Wednesday 12^th. Another one is to do at least two blog posts and write reflection after the workshop I conduct and to write news letter. Finally, the most important task was to give a workshop to high school students.

The purpose of the country presentation is to introduce Egypt, its culture, heritage, traditions and the problems facing the country. During the presentation, I tried to represent my country well and to touch on the misconception about the Egyptians as Muslim Arabs or “Pharaohs”. I also talked about my educational experience at AUC and the cultural shock that I had during my first week in Malaysia.

Another task was to conduct the first workshop. Before the first workshop, I was concerned about the big number of attendees and their young age. Most of the students range from 12 to 14 years old, which means that it might be hard to control them. Another challenge was that they might not be familiar with my accent in English. Not only this, but understanding some English and medical terms might also be hard. For this, intensive preparations were essential to avoid any difficulties during the workshop. Another thing that my team was concerned about is that it is a conservative school, so we decided to eliminate parts of our topic such as condom demonstration, oral and penetrative sex and to mention them quickly without detailed explanation.

After the workshop, and in general, the outcome was satisfactory, especially that this was the first time AIESEC has a workshop attended by that big number

Although the students seemed bored in the middle of the workshop, we tried to have games to energize them. The students were following most of the time with the MCs, which was obvious when they were asked some questions and they were able to answer most of them. If the team succeeded to correct, at least, one misconception about HIV AIDS or make them understand only one fact about the epidemic, it is satisfactory
Hend El-Taher

My first week in UKM

2011-01-12T04:16:00.001+08:00

Being a senior student at The American University in Cairo, living in a multicultural environment and having friends from all over the world did not protect me from cultural shock. This is how I can describe my first day in UKM Malaysia. Part of the fact is that this is my first time I go abroad alone.

Before I come to Malaysia, I neither had time for thinking about expectations regarding the nature of my internship nor my accommodation in general.

The nature of my job wasn’t shocking for me because I am always looking forward to challenging myself with new tasks to add spices to my life. But, yes, it is the first time I work in AIDS project, and it is the first time I read that much about the disease.

Interestingly enough, I realized how ignorant some Egyptians, including me, regarding AIDS epidemic. But there is no wonder when one notices that AIDS is not widespread in Egypt compared to Western and Southern Africa.

I guess the most challenging or shocking thing in my job will be visiting infected people. Not because I get scared of them, but because sometimes I’m very emotional and it is hard to hold my tears.

The real shock happened once I arrived and saw the bathrooms. There is something I know very well about myself; I can adapt to any circumstances except “comfortable bathrooms”. The first day, seriously I didn’t know how these toilets are used because I have never used them before.

Another challenge I’m still facing is Monkeys. For me, Monkey = Lion, which made my first night sleepless; especially when I was told that monkeys can sneak to my rooms through the window.

Sadly, not only monkeys are my weak point, but I also get scared of insects and spiders. But I am so happy to realize that after my second day, I don’t care if a lizard or a “small” insect passes next to me.

Hend El-Taher

OILEY FROM HONG KONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-12T02:58:00.000+08:00

HI this is Oiley, I am a student from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This is my second time in Kuala Lumpur!!!! I love both indoor and outdoor volleyball =)!!!

Cultural Shocks

This is my 10^th days in Kuala Lumpur already, I had tons of fun. Meanwhile, I had a lot of cultural shocks as well.

The first one was on the way back to my accommodation place from the airport – the KLIA line. When I was walking down to the platform, I saw a train already stopped with its door closed. I slow down myself as I thought the train was going to leave. However, IT IS NOT. It had left when I reached the platform.

30 minutes later, another train came. I got into train and grabbed a seat. The seat was comfortable. UNFORTUNATELY, when I tried to get off from the train at my stop, the door did not open itself!! I was panic, I did not know what to do. I was lucky because a man pressed the BUTTON for me. The door opened and I could get off from the train. Otherwise, I would be staying in the train until the FINAL stop.

I did not expect the second one came that soon. I went to the bathroom and there was a water pipe. I thought it was for cleaning the floor or flushing the toilet. I was shocked by the truth actually, really eyes opening.

MY FIRST DAY

My first day night out was to Kajang, there were two AIESECers here bringing to buy some necessities. We went to Econsave, this supermarket actually was 10 times bigger than the one in Hong Kong. I was amazed and understood the reason that they had to tight our bags as it is too pricy to have CCTV all around this place.

After that, we went for dinner. I ordered DURIAN ICE BLENDED and a mixed KEBAB, I had already tried durian in Hong Kong and I loved it. However, this did not apply to everyone, one of us who is from Russia, not really into the king of raw fruit. “We should leave soon, it smells like gas” the girl said. It was one of the funniest joke I ever heard.

So BIGGGG!!!

Group Picture in Kajang

First Meal in Kuala Lumpur

Rice Dumplings!!!! Malaysia Style

the struggle of a HIV positive

2011-01-11T14:37:00.000+08:00

PART 1

In the slums of Bangladesh's capital, drug use is fuelling a new crisis. Most of Dhaka's drug users are young, homeless and unemployed. Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest countries, with 60 million people living below the poverty line. For those struggling to survive in its capital, life can seem devoid of hope

PART 2

While Bangladesh still has a low HIV prevalence in the general population, with less than 0.1% of the population living with the virus, among injecting drug users it is spreading at a worrying rate

PART 3

The low prevalence of HIV in Bangladesh means there is a lack of knowledge and understanding about the virus. Stigma and discrimination are rife

PART 4

In Dhaka, where most of Bangladesh's 23,000 injecting drug users live, 7% of them are HIV positive. In one neighbourhood, where the largest concentration of injecting drug users live, 11% are infected

PART 5

Mozibor Begum was a heroin addict for eight years. He started injecting drugs as a young man, when his parents arranged a marriage for him. He did not want to get married and felt out of control. After the marriage, heroin became a way to escape the life that had been forced upon him

PART 6

Begum injected heroin every day. Like so many drug users he shared needles. "There were so many reasons for this," he says. "Sometimes there was a fear of the police, so we had to do it quickly, sometimes I didn't have enough money so I'd buy a hit with other people. Often we just had one needle." In 2004 he discovered he was HIV positive. He became depressed. "I had no hope," he says. "My family presumed I wouldn't live for long. I'm not sure they cared. I took money from my mother and was not a good husband to my wife."

To be continued.....

Compulsory testing - bad idea or not?

2010-07-20T18:12:00.000+08:00

One of the Malaysian government's policies in response to the HIV/AIDS situation is introducing mandatory HIV/AIDS testing for any Muslim couples planning to get married. This policy has been received in a negative by many AIDS NGOs. The following clips show a short debate amongst government officials, the MAC chairlady and a social worker dealing with PLHIV

Mandatory HIV testing - part 1
Mandatory HIV testing - part 2

What are your thoughts towards this policy? Please share your views over it.

A Different Spin : HIV

2010-05-31T20:52:00.001+08:00

Are you AWARE that there are such things going on ?

Are you AWARE on what you can do to help making a difference ??

Ask again, after watching this video.

http://thestaronline.tv/v/5692

Quoted

" I have been given the opportunity to be here, working with community members the vulnerable communities understanding their difficulties they faced in Malaysia. " - Celeste Parin

"I did a HIV test here, at PT foundation, I just wanted to understand the process that we do, so I went through the free HIV screening myself and becomes ask me the question, are you prepared if you test HIV positive, and I had to straight up say no. " - Celeste Parin

" Sinilah macam satu keluarga, kami semua, golong pembawa HIVkan, jadi kami faham-memahami antara satu sama lain. " - Firdaus - living with HIV

" Yea yea yea, especially in Malaysia, I mean here not, people don’t always talk about, they don’t really talk about it about it openly." Cassandra Wong, student

" You know, these people had decided not to see it as a life sentence, but rather, they have been given life. " Celeste Parin

"The best is to be happy and healthy and to get on with life."

We do not see cases of HIV being reported everyday in the newspaper, in fact i doubt you can really see it once a week. Most of us choose to be ignorant about HIV/AIDS than addressing these issues. How far are you equipped with HIV/AIDS knowledge in protecting yourself and your partner? do you know who to reach should you or your friend being infected with HIV ?

STOP . BEING . IGNORANT

Protect yourself. Protect your partner

make a difference starting from yourself

Workshop at Nilai College

2010-05-26T16:26:00.000+08:00

Here we are, the Red Agents in Nilai College. on behalf of the Red Project, I would like to thank Nilai College and the students for giving us so much support and invited us to conduct an HIV/AIDS workshop in conjunction of the Ribbon Week. Thank you Miss adeline and Miss Daphne for providing us the facilities and refreshments for the workshop.

us chilling out at the bus station before going NC

Ribbon week

the condom demonstration

the students and teachers listening tentatively

Here, i would also like to thank the students for buying our Red Agent T-shirt and supporting us endlessly.

Red Agents chilling out after the workshop... haha

AIDS AWARE - be the message

2010-05-19T23:32:00.022+08:00

AIDS AWARE - be the message

Our own international Red Agents from UKM volunteered themselves to help out PT Foundation in AIDS AWARE - be the message. Let's see what the Red Agents feel about this.

MJ

The volunteer work in PT Foundation’s gallery exhibit was a fresh perspective for me. Unlike the times we worked with people who are already familiar with HIV/AIDS, this time, we had to deal and ask people who do not really have the knowledge or interest in the situation in the first place. There were people who went in and just went out right away after seeing posters about AIDS. It seemed as there were some barricade between the gallery entrance and the outside world. But I told myself that this is the reason why we are here holding this gallery and volunteering to work; to spread the awareness of AIDS!

In commemoration of the AIDS Memorial Day, the gallery was opened to the public in the central market annex. Posters and pictures with people holding messages about AIDS were hung up on the walls for public to see. And a special event was carried out to gain support of the people and raise awareness about AIDS. The event was to raise at least thirteen thousand pictures of people holding messages about HIV/AIDS and to post them on the wall of “HIV/AIDS AWARENESS”. It was not an easy thing to ask the people to do so. There of course were people who said yes right away but there were still people who backed away or turned down. Then a question came at me; “if I was one of the people to be asked to take a picture to support HIV/ADIS, would I have done it?” My initial answer was a no. I would not have wanted to associate myself with these events or causes. But now, after coming in to The Red Project, I found how ignorant and closed I was to these issues. I found out that I cannot expect others to support something that even I am not willing to support.

There are so many people out there who are like the “past me”. They are ignorant and just indifferent about the issue. But at the same time, there are those who support and fight for the cause, to stop the wild fire running around our community. And I am glad that I was able to get the chance to experience this and open up myself to new world! Let’s go and spread the awareness!

THE MESSAGE

Karla

The world celebrates the International AIDS Memorial Day every third Sunday of May to commemorate those who lost the battle and those who are living and still fighting the disease. This year, Pink Triangle Foundation together with ruumz.com celebrated this event in a three-day exposition of pictures and movies at a gallery exhibit entitled AIDSAware: Be the Message at the Annexe Gallery, Central Market, May 16.

It was our pleasure as Red Agents to volunteer for the event. We ushered guests into the exhibit and asked them if they would like to be part of our campaign to spread the message about AIDS and to stop the disease. Their task was simple. All they had to do was pick a message that they think best suits their thoughts about AIDS and pose in front of the camera. We printed out the pictures and posted them on the wall. By then end of this AIDS campaign, we should have collected 13,000 pictures. So far, there have been 13,000 Malaysians who died because of AIDS. Through these pictures, we hope to send the message to everybody that AIDS is a serious issue and it needs to be stopped. These pictures could be accessed and downloaded at aidsaware.ruumz.com.

The crowd reception was great. There was an ongoing bazaar just next door and a lot of young people were coming into the gallery exhibit. There were a variety of people coming in – different genders, different age, different races. And almost everybody had their picture taken. Some were aloof at first, but they agreed later on after knowing the cause of this exhibit. There were families who posed with their cute kids, there were groups of friends, there were couples, there were teenagers, there were babies.

This was definitely an experience for me as it enriched my ability to approach and talk to people. One of the most important things in life is to be able to communicate and deliver your message efficiently so that others may understand. This internship has so far enabled me to develop my communication skills and at the same time educate other people about one of the world’s most pressing concerns – HIV/AIDS. This event was a venue for me to deepen my passion for this cause and to share with other people the messages that must spread faster than AIDS.

So woon

On the 15th of may, Red Agents went to Central Market to volunteer at the exhibition about AIDS.

AIDSAWARE is a project to spread the awareness on HIV/AIDS and to further stop HIV by allowing each and every one of us not only to share a message and spread a message, but to be a Message itself.

Some of the messages collected were shown at the Annexe Gallery, Central Market last May 15 and 16. PT Foundation has joined up with Ruumz Causes to develop this campaign as part of its activity for International AIDS Memorial Day 2010 which fell on the 16th of May this year.

Actually we were planning to volunteer both weekdays (15th and 16th May), but the schedule was changed so we volunteered only on saturday.

Our tasks are Greet guests as they walk in and Take photos of guests and stick them up on the photo wall from 4pm to 8pm.

The inside of the gallery

In front of the AIDSAWARE sign, So Woon

There are lots of messages like this one, Guests were took a picture with these messages

After volunteering, Red Agents in front of the photo wall!

Although we had a volunteer work with PT Foundation before, the day with AIDSAWARE was more meaningful than the other days. We collect a lot of pictures and it might help to increase the awareness about HIV/AIDS.

The International Red Agents Karla, MJ, Sowoon

Wake House visit by the interns

2010-05-19T21:44:00.001+08:00

he Rumah Wake ( Wake House)

The journey to the Rumah wake was mixture of emotions such as excitement, uncertainty, and little bit of fright, because this was the first time that I was actually encountering someone who is HIV positive. Human perceptions can be scary. They actually shape up the things to form a certain definitive shape even before we actually see or encounter it. But I told myself that this trip will be one that would break my perceptions and help me to grow and mature.

Our first destination was the women’s house, where the HIV positive women and homeless women stayed. The place itself looked weary and old. To be honest I actually thought ‘can the patients live in this condition?’ But proving my expectations wrong, the people living in the house all looked healthy and were friendly. They were just like any of us who visited the place. As we sat down and started talking with the women, they opened up their stories. Some had the disease for 13 years already while some were new and joined the wake not too long ago. They were provided with medicines and check-ups through the support of the government. It was an interesting experience listening to them speaking their side of the story. But at the same time, it also was also heart aching to see some abandoned by their family and having no dreams for the future.

In our second destination of the transsexual house, the people there were more opened up with their experience and the current situation of the transsexuals in Malaysia. There in fact are lots of transsexuals out there who are HIV positive and it is continuously spreading. It was a scary thing to learn about, but also was a call for The Red Project team to do their job and take part in educating the people about HIV/AIDS!

We may not know any HIV positive people around us FOR THE MOMENT. But as we always say, AIDS does not discriminate. The people in the Rumah wake would not have guessed that they would one day become HIV positive and live their lives with AIDS. Thus it is really important that we could build a community that is ready to accept these people, to care for these people and treat them just like any other human being. Discrimination is what makes them more difficult. Disease itself maybe a part of it, but the eyes of the people looking down on them, ignoring them and judging them is what makes them feel the pain and give up all hopes. Hope we could contribute in building that kind of society. Start by changing ourselves!!

Source : www.deviantart.com

Well, well. It's about time something like this happened in our LC!

2010-05-14T00:40:00.001+08:00

Be there or be square! Get the best of BOTH Projects under the SAME roof!! TRP and EYLN is HOT-TO-GO!!!!

Workshop at SMK Jalan Reko

2010-05-05T22:00:00.004+08:00

Red Agents on the move! At 4th May, We went to SMK Jalan Reko for HIV/AIDS workshop, which is located in Kajang.

First, We would like to thank the officials of SMK Jalan Reko for giving us this opportunity to conduct HIV/AIDS workshop, hope you meet later again :)

Here are some pictures of this day's HIV/AIDS workshop.

on the way to the SMK Jalan Reko, cute MJ :)

Wildfire Game, Jarod, Karla and Students =)

during workshops, our OCP ! Peiling and MJ

Body Game, Karla and students :-)

after the workshops, girls with meals ^^

Red Agents with Teachers :-)

Well, the Red Agents hope the students enjoy the session.

do visit us in Facebook :)

Sign,

Red Agent

The RED Project, AIESEC in UKM.

workshop at SMK Taman Bukit Maluri

2010-05-03T21:25:00.000+08:00

RED Agents on the run. and Red Agents from The Red Project UKM stops at SMK Taman Bukit Maluri for a half day workshop. Here, we would like to thank the officials of SMK Taman Bukit Maluri for giving us this opportunity to conduct two slots of HIV/AIDS workshop. on behalf of the Red Agents, I hope that the students would benefit from it and spread the awareness on HIV and AIDS :) woohoo~ here are some of the photos.

Suwoon and Jennifer. chilling out after preparing the workshop

playing the body game with students :)

the RED Agents in action~ (a bright smile from Vince)

and it all ends with a group photo.

Well, the Red Agents hope the students enjoy the session. do visit us in Facebook :) (just click on the link beside)

Sign,

Red Agent

The RED Project, AIESEC in UKM.

RED Agents on the move

2010-04-21T20:15:00.000+08:00

YEA,

Red Agents on the move :

but, where will be next ?
check the Red Team out at
Venue : SMK Taman Bukit Maluri
Time : 9.00am - 12.00 pm
Date : 23 / 4 / 2010

talking about spreading awareness for HIV/AIDS, none can be done if you do not take the first step.

WE had taken it. have you?

followed is an article on how a little effort can make a gigantic difference.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2010
The Woman Who Made HIV Real to a VIP
I'm away visiting my kids, folks, hence the long silence. Meanwhile so many things have been happening that I can't keep up to comment on them. Others have written some great comments on various issues that I don't think I can match them.

But one little personal event happened which I thought I would commemorate. In one way it's very sad and indeed I feel very bereft but on the other hand it's also possible to see what changed in our society because of one person.

Early this morning my friend LYL passed away. She wasn't anyone famous or wealthy or someone we would have thought was extraordinary. But to me she was special.

I met LYL around 1995. At that time I had just started working in HIV and was beginning to learn about all the issues involved with it. One of the main issues (and sadly still is) was stigma and discrimination. It was severe enough that there were doctors in private hospitals who refused to treat people with HIV and sent them off to government hospitals to be seen by the few over-burdened doctors there. At the time there was not a lot that even those doctors could do because there were hardly any treatments for anyone with HIV.

The plight of Malaysians living with HIV at the time was quite severe. Most lived in fear of society's judgment on them. They were afraid of applying for jobs or of losing what jobs they already had. Most felt there was no better fate for them than death. But elsewhere in the developed world, people with HIV were fighting stigma and prejudice and were beginning to find hope in the treatments that were becoming available there.

So my colleagues and I decided that we needed to make our case to the country's political leadership. So as President of the Malaysian AIDS Council I wrote a formal letter to the Prime Minister asking for an appointment.

And waited. And waited. Nine months later, we got a call. Nelson Mandela had cancelled his visit to Malaysia and a slot had opened up for us! It was to be a week later. (Perhaps Mandela, an HIV campaigner himself, somehow knew the appointment was really important to us.) So my colleagues including Dr Christopher Lee who is now the head Infectious Diseases doctor in the Ministry of Health, Professor Dr Sharifah Hapsah Shahabuddin (now Vice-Chancellor of UKM) and several others had meetings to prepare for our presentation.

We also made one important decision and that was to include a person with HIV in our group. That person was LYL.

LYL was a teacher whose fiance had died of an AIDS-related illness . It was only then that she found out about her own infection. Instead of retreating into depression, she decided that she would do what she could to educate others about HIV and to advocate for better treatment of people living with the virus. She often spoke at seminars and workshops, often using a different name.

When we went to meet the PM at his office at Parliament House, we had programmed our presentation so that LYL would speak last. I spoke about the general state of the epidemic and Dr. Lee spoke about the need for better medical treatment for people with HIV. After we were through, LYL got up nervously and started. "My name is LYL, I'm a teacher and I'm HIV-positive". I remember Dad's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the sight of a perfectly normal-looking young woman standing in front of him disclosing her status.

LYL spoke about what it was like to live with a virus that she always had to keep secret. She talked about her service teaching students in a government school and how she feared someone would find out her status and fire her. And how what she really needed was the treatments that were coming online in the West but were yet unavailable in Malaysia at the time. Those treatments meant everything between life and death for people with HIV.

I know that that little presentation did a lot. At our fundraising dinner a few weeks later, the PM mentioned how sad he was to hear of doctors turning away patients with HIV. I remember Dr Lee had tears in his eyes when he heard that.

Three years later at the opening of the 5th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) in KL, the PM announced that Malaysia would look at compulsory licensing of antiretroviral drugs in order to make them more accessible to Malaysians living with HIV by making them cheaper. Indeed soon after that, the price of the drugs went from over RM2000 a month to about 10% of the price, thus allowing more people access to them.

(And I know LYL had an effect on Dad because he often asked after her.)

Eventually the Ministry of Health managed to provide free treatment to Malaysians living with HIV in government hospitals. Unfortunately the take-up isn't 100% mostly, I think, because few people know that they can get this treatment for almost free. And many are still deterred by the stigma and discrimination around HIV and that is also why they don't go to get tested and onto these life-saving drugs.

But LYL was one of the beneficiaries of these drugs. Although in the last few years she has not been too healthy, she did survive far longer that she would have without them. And while she lived she was always an inspiration of strength to all of us who worked in HIV. She was always a quiet person, not one to shout out her frustrations with the state of prevention and treatment of HIV in our country. But she was an example of a model Malaysian just by being a person of such dignity, care and compassion for others.

Every once in a while I would get an sms from LYL wishing me Selamat Hari Raya or whatever the occasion was and asking me how I was. Not once did she ever sound depressed, bitter or complained about anything. She liked instead to ask after my parents and children.

Two days ago her brother sms'd me to say that LYL was in a coma and in hospital. Being thousands of miles away I couldn't do much except pray that she would recover somehow. But friends who visited her said there was not much hope. She came out of her coma briefly and was conscious enough to know that she was surrounded by family and friends. Then in the early hours she slipped away, finally at peace.

The whole HIV community mourns the passing of LYL, the first Malaysian to stand in front of a Prime Minister and make him understand what it means to live with HIV. That act of courage alone changed the lives of so many people. Not least by making the lives of HIV+ people real to those without the virus.

article from : http://rantingsbymm.blogspot.com/2010/04/woman-who-made-hiv-real-to-vip.html

Adam the Musical

2010-04-07T11:07:00.000+08:00

Adam The Musical

for more information, please log on to http://www.mac.org.my/ click on the following link :

http://axcess.com.my/s_adam10.asp?id=2577768986657849548897954802019139843366

thank you for your attention.

GUESS WHAT? MARATHON WORKSHOPS COMING TO A SCHOOL NEAR YOU!!!

2010-04-05T23:47:00.001+08:00

The Red Project in AIESEC UKM is working hard to bring you this event. Nearing exam week, we wish all the Red Agents who are taking their finals ALL THE BEST in their exams and in conducting this workshop, educating others while being educated themselves. Please spread the word to your friends who are in this school, to kindly participate in this workshop. See you there!!!!

Exhibition in Sunway

2010-04-05T22:06:00.001+08:00

In conjunction with Entrepreneurship and Youth, a Learning Network (EYLN) launching, the Red project had an exhibition in Sunway Piramid. Reaching to the public, The Red Agents play none but an interactive role in spreading awareness on HIV and Aids to the public. And most importantly, the Red Agents had impacted people with knowledge on HIV/AIDS. on behalf of the Red Agent, we would like to thank Sunway and EYLN for this opportunity and amazing experience in Sunway Piramid.

Okay, done much of writing, dear readers, do indulge in some of the photos.

Layout. help from other AIESECers in UKM.

and we would like to thank interns from UM, Kate Pote and Marie and also OCP of HIV/AIDS project of UM, Chia Yinn for joining us in the exhibition.

AIESECers from UKM

Now, the interns and Red Agents in action

who said this exhibition is only for shoppers... we managed to grab a guards attention by asking him on issues on HIV/AIDS. that was so coooool.

And lastly our dear OCP and interns posing in front of the lenses.

Cheers, Agents and interns from UM, you have all done a great job in spreading the Red awareness, HIV/AIDS awareness.

More Workshops!

2010-04-02T01:27:00.000+08:00

To all students of SMK DATO HAMZAH, we would appreciate your full participation today. We will see you in about 9 hours!!! The Red Agents are coming to you!

More HIV/AIDS 101 workshops!

2010-03-31T16:22:00.001+08:00

There will be a HIV/AIDS 101 Workshop tomorrow, 1 APRIL 2010.

Place: Kalangkasa, KIY

Time: 8.30 -10.30 pm

Feeling tensed and need something to take your mind off the upcoming finals, but don't want to waste time on Facebook?

Come and join our workshop! It's EDUCATIONAL, INFORMATIONAL and you are playing a part in WORLDWIDE HIV/AIDS prevention. See you there!

HIV/AIDS roadshow in University Kebangsaan Malaysia

2010-03-31T00:13:00.001+08:00

RED Roadshow in Pusanika in UKM. Whoohoo... this roadshow had proved to be beneficial to the students in UKM and of course AIESEC in UKM because we managed to brand ourselves and students participate a lot in the roadshow. a round of applauds for the RED agents and students in UKM... whoohoo~

Layout of the roadshow

Red Agents preparing to rock Pusanika...

Approaching students about

What we do and how we are doing it ?

click on the links above to know more about The Red Project and HIV/AIDS

And we have Marie Nemoto, intern from Japan come and visit us at our roadshow.

Jennifer and Marie.

Things start to get a little bit interactive here. welcoming The Body Game.

Explaining the body game

Jennifer showing the condom demonstration to Marie.

Thats all for now. a sneak preview of what coming up next

Exhibition in Sunway Piramid.

Stay tuned

HIV/AIDS exhibition in SUNWAY

2010-03-26T10:54:00.003+08:00

HIV/AIDS Exhibition in SUNWAY PYRAMID

The red agent is setting a booth in SUNWAY PIRAMID

at the ORANGE CONCOURSE

from 11am-5pm

Feel free to drop by, because we are having the exhibition in conjunction with EYLN and Outgoing Exchange department of AIESEC in UKM.

Besides that, we are having a Global village, whoohoo~

it is going to be a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HIV/AIDS roadshow

2010-03-18T10:07:00.000+08:00

Think you knew it all about HIV/AIDS?

Think again...

The Red Project is going to have a HIV/AIDS Roadshow in Pusanika level 2 on Friday (19/3/10) at 9am.

Do drop by our roadshow.

Join us in spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS. Be a Red Agent yourself.

HIV diagnosis is not a death sentence

2010-03-15T15:46:00.000+08:00

November 28th 2009 - Today, I am celebrating an Anniversary. I don't recall the exact day I found out I was infected with HIV, it was sometime in 1984. The day that stands out most for me is November 28th 1985.

On November 28th 1985, I was told by my doctor to inform my family, arrange my finances and funeral, I had six months to live!

Soon after, I left my job, friends and family and moved far away so that no one would see me get sick and die...but I didn't die. Twenty-five years later I'm still here.

The point is that I missed out on so much during those years when I hid my HIV status and lived far away from family and friends. Years, when I could have been close to those I love but instead I lived in isolation.

Years that I could have been close to my father (my mother died when I was young), brothers and sister, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and all my friends. All of whom when I did finally disclose I was HIV+ asked, "Why didn't you tell us? We love you!"

What was I thinking? I was deciding for others; deciding what others could or could not handle, what they could or could not know, instead of letting people make up their own minds!

The truth is that people infected with HIV can and do live normal lives. They go to school, have careers, marry, have children and much more!

Don't waste time worrying about what could or might be. Be present NOW!

Enjoy all life has to offer. Learn about HIV. Learn what you can do to stay healthy!

Fear will undermine every aspect of your life if you let it. Don't let HIV occupy your mind. Don't let HIV take away your JOY for living!

Do everything you love to do and spend time with people who you care about and who really care about you.

I must say that once I decided to no longer be afraid of people finding out I was HIV+ and since coming out about my HIV status...my life has been rich and full!

Yes, there have been health concerns, sickness, HIV/AIDS medications and side effects with HIV affecting every area of my life, but there is so much more that has made my life worth living!

You have one chance in life; make the most of it.

adapted from

Bradford McIntyre

www.positivelypositive.ca

to the second round of MacJannet Awards

2010-03-12T23:48:00.000+08:00

Recently The Red Project had applied for the MacJannet Prize and we are glad to announce that

We are through to the SECOND ROUND... woohoo~

A little information about the MacJannet Prize:

The MacJannet Prize recognizes exceptional student civic engagement initiatives based in Talloires Network member universities around the world and contributes financially to their ongoing public service efforts.

And there're now 22 other programs (as follow) running for the prize. the eight winners will be announced in April.

Ballarat Learning for Life - Australian Catholic University (Australia)
Big Sister Big Brother Orphanage Program - Petro Mohyla State University (Ukraine)
Community Awareness Initiatives Responsibly-Directed by Engineers (CAIRDE) - National University of Ireland, Galway (Ireland)
Community-Based Project Module (JCP) - University of Pretoria (South Africa)
Community Builders - Wartburg College (USA)
Design/Build: Indigenous Australia - University of Melbourne (Australia)
Development and Emergency Practice Collaborative Fieldwork Program - Oxford Brookes University (UK)
Global Hope - Liverpool Hope University (UK)
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education - University of Mines and Technology (Ghana)
Humanity in Focus - University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution - Cuttington University (Liberia)
IUPUI-Moi University Strategic Partnership - Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (USA)
National Centre for Sustainability - Swinburne University of Technology (Australia)
Programa de Vinculación Socio Productiva - Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (Argentina)
PuentesUC - Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile)
The Red Project - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Malaysia)
Refugee Action Support Program - University of Western Sydney (Australia)
Student Initiatives@MGD AKA "One-Stop Service" - Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
Student Leaders for Service - Portland State University (USA)
Ubunye - University of Cape Town (South Africa)
Vidas Moviles - Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia)
Village Adoption Project in Yunnan - Lingnan University (Hong Kong)

Congratulations to the Organizing Committee members of The Red Project 2009. woohoo~

HIV/AIDS workshop in UKM !!

2010-03-07T01:01:00.000+08:00

Voila, The RED Project of AIESEC in UKM is bringing you a HIV/AIDS workshop. Details as follow:

Venue : PTSL Level 2, Bilik serbaguna
Time : 2.00p.m.
date : 9th of March (Tuesday)

Do not hesitate to drop by our workshop in PTSL where we bring you HIV 101. JOIN our quest to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS.

DO you think you know enough? think again...

Workshop at Burhanuddin Helmi Residential College

2010-03-06T01:23:00.000+08:00

Sad to say, it was Yoo-Jin's last workshop in UKM (Awwww). The RED Agents went to Burhanuddin Helmi Residential College to conduct a workshop. Although the participants are less than 20 people due to the exams going on, however, they are quite interactive and enjoyed participation in the workshop. The Red Agents are really glad to see the audience enjoyed and get the most out of it in the workshop.

the starting slides

Iqbal conducting workshop

AIESEC all around the world, introduced by Iqbal.

wildfire game ~

Woohoo~ thats for the workshop photo. Well, the night is still young. The Red Agents had a little surprise for Iqbal, our beloved intern... YAY~

Our Birthday Boy... hahaha

Happy Birthday to You Iqbal~

(many things to wish for huh~)

with us is San, and a lot of memories are embedded in these pictures.

CHEERS RED AGENTS~

RED Project is HOT TO GO.

***

HIV/AIDS 101 WORKSHOP

2010-03-03T01:07:00.000+08:00

Come join us, show your support for our project and at the same time, get more HIV/AIDS knowledge! Best of all, IT'S FREE!!!
Bring your friends along!

HIV/AIDS roadshow

2010-02-25T10:50:00.002+08:00

(click on the thumbnail to zoom)

We are making an impact to the society.

Do you want to be a part of it?

Find out what are we, the Red Team, is doing and how are we going to do it,

to make in impact to YOU, and to the SOCIETY.

HIV-Positive Blogger Aims to Inspire and Spread Hope

2010-02-22T20:26:00.001+08:00

HIV-Positive Blogger Aims to Inspire and Spread Hope

September 25, 2009

"It's an important message to get across that even if you have this disease, there's still hope for a long and happy life,"

Shawn Decker was just 11 when he was diagnosed with HIV and told he had two years to live. But on Oct. 3, Decker, now 34, will receive the Whitman-Walker Clinic's Courage Award at the opening ceremonies of the 23rd annual AIDS Walk Washington.

Decker has hemophilia and acquired HIV during a treatment for the condition. "I missed the last month of sixth grade because the school kicked me out because they were afraid I would infect other kids," said

Decker, who grew up in Waynesboro, Va. His parents waged a successful fight to get Decker back into school, but for many years he closely guarded his secret.

After graduating from high school, Decker in 1996 was inspired by the story of Ryan White's courageous fight against AIDS and decided to disclose his HIV status. He began blogging extensively about his life. "I wanted people to see that somebody with the disease could be someone you like," he said. "For me, meeting the AIDS community and talking online completely changed my life."

In 2004, Decker married Gwenn Barringer, an AIDS activist and educator he had met in 1998. The couple speaks at various events about their relationship and how they safeguard Barringer from the virus. They chronicle their lives on a Web site, www.shawnandgwenn.com, and Decker is a columnist for POZ magazine. In 2006, he published his memoir, "My Pet Virus: The True Story of a Rebel Without a Cure."

"It's an important message to get across that even if you have this disease, there's still hope for a long and happy life," said Chip Lewis of Whitman-Walker.

For information on AIDS Walk Washington, visit www.aidswalkwashington.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=299353.

Adapted from: http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art53838.html

To get to know more about Shawn Decker and his inspiring stories,

Do visit : http://www.facebook.com/shawndecker | http://www.shawnandgwenn.com/ |

My best day during internship…

2010-02-20T13:34:00.001+08:00

I was in a sleepy condition when I woke up at 5 am in Za’ba College. I pushed my body to take a bath with freezing water..bbbbrrrrrrr…!! That’s really made me fell sick. But I had to get the bus at 7 am, and went to KLCC with Ha, because I wanted to visit the skybridge at Twin towers, and it only opened in the morning, so we had to wake up early and go to KLCC as soon as possible…

At 6.45 I went to the bus stop in front of Za’ba College, and Ha was already there. We got the earliest bus (rapid KL) to KTM station, when I arrived there, the train already came and the passengers ran to go inside, but we couldn’t enter that train because we didn’t buy the ticket. So, after we bought the tickets we have to wait the next train around 20 minutes. After we arrived at KL Sentral we bought rapid KL train ticket to KLCC.

KLCC station was very crowded when we arrived there. And we had to meet Ben who was already there to get the ticket for us. But unfortunately there was a problem with the signal and I couldn’t call him. Finally, after 15 minutes there, we managed to call him. And he was still queuing to get the tickets. And we got the ticket at 1.30. So, we had a lot of time to go around the Twin towers. Ben suggested us to try the experience in Petrosains, what a really amazing experience there ( you have to try it ).

And after 2 hours in Petrosains, we visited the sky bridge, that’s really awesome…I really liked that moment… but its only 10 minutes, but I think that’s quite enough.:)

Then, we decided to visit Bukit Bintang, and our first destination is Pavilion Plaza, and we walked around, and we had lunch there, actually we planned to watch movie, but the ticket already sold out. So, we went to Berjaya times square to find another cinema there, but unfortunately the ticket already sold out too, after drink at the Tea Shop we back to UKM…

-Iqbal-

My Ceedership Sharing

2010-02-19T23:23:00.002+08:00

AIESEC Activity

Chapter One-AMAN

The 1st weekend, I was so glad to be invited to join AMAN,-Malaysia AIESEC AWARD Night. Compared to Chinese Award Night which is usually held on the last night of our National Conference, the professionalism of AIESEC Malaysia really impressed me and I did notice that AIESECers in Malaysia all did awesome jobs in the last year not only in terms of exchange number but also for the members and LC’s organic growth. Hope AIESEC Malaysia and AIESEC UKM will have a more rapid growth next year^^

Chapter two-Central Area Election Day

Me and AIESECers from LC UKM and interns

Me and the Red Agents from The RED Project

In China, usually LCs will hold its own LCP election ,so members from one LC probably have no idea of the procedure of other LC’s LCP election, but here in KL, Malaysia ,a big AIESEC event of Central Area Election which is consist of 4 LCs –UKM,UPM.UM,TUC really provided a platform for AIESECers to know more about other LC and have some knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of their brother LCs, I do like this way and hope it could follow this suit later .

Chapter three-AIESEC Gathering &Bonding Time in UKM

Every Wednesday evening, to every AIESECer in UKM, it is a special moment ,since it is a AG time yay! Unlike My LC ,the only gathering time is every month LC meeting ,most time of which is kinda boring and serious, however the one held in UKM is quite member motivated where the ground dance ,TM session and alumni sharing provide the chance for members to know more about each other plus get more idea of the excellent former AIESECers and other function work, so TMers in UKM, you guys really do an awesome job, hope you could keep up this tradition and perhaps add more elemant in it in the future^^

Chapter three-My farewell Dinner

In our LC, as the OCP of Red Wings Project in our LC,I have arranged or participated a lot of farewell dinners for interns, and here ,in UKM, as a CEEder ,I got the chance to get my own Farewell dinner though I don’t like the feeling of saying goodbye to my friends.

Well I own great thanks to the AIESECers who joined my farewell ,for you guys were under mid-term exams, so quite busy with study and AIESEC work already but still spare time to join it ,I was quite touched by it, thanks a lot ya^^.Held in Zaba, the farewell dinner was prepared with Satay and many other traditional food ,we even hold (could you ask Jarod the Chinese food we had for drinking competition?),,it is absolutely one of my sweetest memories in Malaysia

My Work

Chapter one –find sponsor

Well it is hard to find sponsor to support a non-profit project, not to mention to find one in Malaysia where the official working language is English and corporate cultures is quite different from that of China in one month ,however ,the more challenging the work is ,the more meaningful.

The CEEDership is, so starting with making proposal, then making cold calls and later visiting companies, our marketing team progress step by step, I am so glad to work with Charlene and Kuan Yoke –the two passionate girls for marketing work, and also enjoy the OC meeting of TRP

Pei ling , Jarod , Geraldine ,Vincent and Hui Yee, I am really proud to be the colleague with you guys^^

Chapter two- Conduct workshop

Although my JD of ceedership did not include workshop , yet I did appreciate TRP team offered me the chance to be the Red Agent with interns and AIESECers, making one of my AIESEC dreams –to be facilitator for HIV/AIDS come true. The workshop was held in SEGi College, which is quite far from UKM. Getting up around 6 am ,it took us like 4 hours to get there ,welcomed by the teachers and students there ,the whole process seemed to be quite enjoyable with the help of very responsive students ,we were proud to be The Red Agent!

Culture Shock

Batu Cave tour

On the 3rd weekend, I went to Batu Cave with my Intern friends, without acquiring any knowledge about the cave, I thought it was a cave showing drawing , like a museum visiting. However when I went there ,I was deeply shocked by the Indian Crowd there, whom with flowers on their head and barefoot ,what’s more ,there are some certain people with hooks deeply linked to their bones and several people pull them on the back ,it seems that they were under great pain to pray ,the sincere spirit really impressed me a lot

Malay People

Well before I came to Malaysia ,my Chinese Friends told me to be careful when talking with Malay people, this is mostly because we were so unfamiliar about their culture or we misunderstood that they were kinda cold when treating foreigners. However during my stay, I was so surprised by their friendliness, for example ,a Malay Uncle kindly introduced me the yummy food and could remember what I ordered even 2 weeks after and I still remembered a Malay Staff in Starbucks sacrificed his working time to look for the way to get the printing place for me ,there are so many cases that shows people here is a lot nicer than I thought and I really miss them^^

Malaysian Cuisine

The food here is a combination of Malay, India , Chinese and so forth, so it is quite diversified .as to the Malay food. I was quite impressed by the spicy and oily food here ,even as a Chinese who loves Sichuan Food(which is famous for the spicy sauce),I did find the Malay food a little bit more spicy ,however most of the food is very delicious.

Malaysia Tour

Chapter one-Penang trip

On the 2nd weekend of my CEEDership ,I went to Penang ,the trip of which took me 5 hours ,then in USM,I met my old friend- Yi Ying (she did a internship in Dalian last year) and her friend – Qing Yoong ,a nice @er who kindly showed us around Penang by his car, during my 2 days visit ,the tourism sites and best ever food in Malaysia there attracted me a lot and the moment I left there I was kinda sad and didn’t wanna go back ,haha

Chapter 2 – KL tour

Since UKM is a little bit far from the central of KL ,so Yoo Jin,Milou,Bob ,Ramiro and I decided to book a hostel in China Town which could facilitate our 2 days KL tour. It was an amazing weekend, not only did we pay visits to Batu Cave ,Chinese Town ,some Museums,but also we went to Reggae Bar and Zouk Nightclub where I found the nightlife in KL is amazing ,lots of tourists plus exciting atmosphere

Chapter 3-Melaka

Well introduced by my German friend that Cameron Highland is a must-go place for tourists, so I bought the ticket one week ahead to get there with Milou and Yoo Jin, however I did miss my bus and only to be told that it was impossible for me to make it on my last weekend ,so I have to give up Cameron Highland.. kinda sad=(

However ,I went to Melaka then with Derek who kindly drove me there and made my trip so wonderful .Actually it’s a spontaneous idea ,neither of us did a good research of Melaka even when we were on our way there, haha ,how random we are =).Melaka is far smaller than I thought and it only took us several hours to finish all the tour sites, but I really enjoy it

Chapter Four-meet up with my friends in Malaysia

During my CEEDership time,I met my old friends Alvin ,Moritz ,Usong ,Muslih and Kenny ,some of them jst came to Malaysia to visit me or the AIESECers in different LCs, Its so glad to meet them again in different places and thanks to AIESEC that made me have friends all over the world and I am not alone even in China ,^^

A Young Man Learns to 'Embrace' His HIV Status

2010-02-14T00:07:00.000+08:00

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Carl, a 19-year-old Prince George's County resident, spoke with reporter Susan Levine about finding out that he was HIV-positive -- and about his life after the diagnosis. Excerpts from that conversation:

THIS STORY

Teen Voices of AIDS

A Young Man Learns to 'Embrace' His HIV Status: A Young Man Learns to 'Embrace' His HIV Status

I've now been diagnosed for two years. Well, not two years, going on two years. January 13th. I found out on January 13th, 2006. It was Friday the 13th. I never forget, Friday the 13th, what a horrible day to find out . . .

I do not know when or where I was infected. . . . All I can give is a time period, an estimated time period anywhere between the ages of 15 and 16.

If you are what they call an at-risk person, the average teen, you kind of know, you've got to know, you have a feeling, look, I'm doing certain things, I'm living a certain lifestyle that can be damaging in the future.

So kind of by the age of 17, I started thinking, you know, all my friends kept saying, we're all gonna go get tested, and we should all get tested together, but I lived with a certain fear because, a fear of knowing. You know, I kind of said to myself, I think I might have it, but I'm not sure.

To me, at the time, at the time, not knowing was waaaay better than knowing. Because if I didn't know, I did not have to deal with the pressures or, for lack of understanding at the time, you know, ending my life. You know, it was like a death thing, what I thought at the time.

I was very uneducated about the subject. You know, when things came up on TV about AIDS or HIV, when they talked about it in school, I kind of ran away from it. You know, cut the channel, cover my eyes, 'cause I was scared of, I was scared of the facts, I didn't want to know the facts, I wanted to stay ignorant to the subject . . . because as long as I was ignorant to the subject, I thought, Okay, I'm fine.

That kept me sane. I'm thinking, If I don't know anything about it, I'm fine. But if I knew what was going on, it made me feel more and more guilty about the things I was doing as a teenager.

I was afraid my mom was going to throw me out, she was going to disown me as her child. . . . I did not know what the outcomes could be, you know. We didn't grow up with the best of relationships, so I didn't know how she was going to feel if I was positive.

The bad part about it is that my mom was just as ignorant on the subject as I was. So when we got home, it was a circus, you know. She made me eat off of paper plates, eat from paper products. You know, I couldn't, like I said, I had three other brothers and sisters. I couldn't share any, any, you know, knives, forks, spoons that they shared. I drank from paper cups, paper knives, ate off of paper plates. Everything was separate.

It really hurt me, it really hurt me. Like I really pushed myself away from the family.

Over the past two years, I've grown a lot. I've become educated, I've become educated on the subject through my doctors, my social workers. . . . I've really become one with who I am, and I've embraced being HIV-positive. Sometimes I even forget I have it. I live a normal life. Like I say, I'm a college student. I have normal bills, normal student loans. . . . I live a life of a teenager.

Teenagers start rumors. So I had rumors from everywhere: I was starving my soul. I was bulimic. And then the big thing came out: Everyone said Carl had AIDS. The big rumor came out about Carl having AIDS.

I used to have pity parties for myself. You know, that was the hardest part. I would have a weekly pity party, where I would go and I would sob and it would be sob, play the blame game, feel sorry for myself. I don't have those anymore.

I've changed my sexual patterns and my sexual behavior, um, where at first I was afraid to ask for condoms.

I use them, I'm not afraid to use them.

To me, it's a part of you. It's like anything that's a part of you, from a scar on your hand . . . it's something you have to live with. It's something you have to say to yourself: "Am I gonna let this scar on my face control who I am as a person? Am I gonna let cancer dictate my life?"

As I said to myself, "Am I gonna let HIV define who I am as a person?" And I said to myself, "No, no, I'm not." Yes, I've seen people die of HIV, and I've heard the stories of people dying at a young age. But I've also heard the stories of healthy people who live long, healthy lives, who lived into their 40s or even into their 50s or late 30s, who took care of their selves and accomplished everything they wanted in life, you know.

Teens should know that HIV is real. And I think, you know, no matter how many commercials you put, how many billboards you put up, how many posters, how many people come to your school and talk, they need to know that it's real and it's out there. A lot of teens are naive to certain things. I know I was naive. . . . It's like . . . it's not gonna happen to me. And finally, when it happens, it's reality.

Let me tell you: The closest thing I got to HIV education in school, I don't even remember talking about HIV in health class. . . . A little segment in health class on what they called at the time STDs, that's about it. We didn't focus on HIV and AIDS in school, which to me is sad.

My parents and adults, they didn't think HIV is real in teenagers. It's like teenagers don't think HIV is real in the adults, parents don't want to believe that HIV is real in teenagers.

The way I was living, it took me getting HIV to turn my life around.

I think my main message to another teenager, one who would be at risk or not at risk: HIV is alive, is real. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you or can happen to your friend, your BFF, your boyfriend, your girlfriend. It's alive.

Carl spoke with The Post on condition that his last name not be used.

adapted from :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/07/AR2008010702047.html

Workshop at SEGi College, Subang Jaya

2010-02-02T20:20:00.002+08:00

Yoo-Jin, Megan, Geraldine and me (Jarod) had conducted a workshop at SEGi College last Saturday. it was an awesome workshop and the Red Agents enjoy it very much. here are some pictures on the day's workshop. (and more to come...)

Michelle, the person in charge of this workshop, give it a start by welcoming the students and a brief intro about the Red Agents

Students who come to the workshop

The Wildfire Game.

Students listened attentively

The end of the workshop, we took a picture with Michelle, the person in charge.

not forgetting Geraldine.....

Post workshop gathering. the Red Agents hanging out in the nearby mall and did documentation and Post-mortem.

On behalf of the Red Project, I would like to grab this opportunity to thank Michelle, the person in-charge of the workshop and her colleague for letting us to conduct the workshop and the souvenir as appreciation. Thank you so much to the students of SEGi College for participating in the workshop. Thanks.

That's all for the workshop at SEGi. Stay tuned for more Updates...

Workshop for Korean students 2010

2010-01-26T16:04:00.009+08:00

unusual way of shaking hands

interactive moments

Korean participants

Charlene and Yoo-Jin conducting pre-quiz

The Body Game by Yoo-Jin

condom demonstration by Red Agents

On 25th Jan 2010, we conducted our very FIRST HIV/AIDS 101 workshop of the TERM! The Red Agents who conducted the workshop were Yoo-Jin, Vincent and Charlene.

The HIV/AIDS 101 session was held in Bilik Serbaguna, 2nd Floor, PTSL, UKM. It was conducted to Korean students who are currently on exchange here in UKM.

We had our very own intern from Korea, Yoo-Jin, to translate in Korean when the students did not understand certain words. Despite the little language barrier, their participation was exceptional, seeing that the session was conducted in English.

Train the Trainers

2010-01-23T13:21:00.005+08:00

the trainers

Ben explaining the Body Game

Last night we had our Train the trainee (TtT) for The Red Project members, our CEEDer from China, Megan and our intern from Korea, Yoo-Jin. The TtT was conducted by the previous batch Red Agents, Wei Lin, Ben and Shu Shean.

A special thank you to Ben, Wei Lin and Shu Shean for taking some time out to conduct the training. All of us really gain a lot in this TtT and we really appreciate the trainers.

first four days in Malaysia.

2010-01-21T00:29:00.003+08:00

The AIESECers

Before I arrive in Malaysia, I could feel the welcome given by the UKM AIESECers, from the greetings by Pei Ling and the useful preparation booklet by Ben. When I arrived , the constant concern from them for me warmed my heart, still remember the 1^st day Jarod showed me around the beautiful campus though he got many classes then, still remember when something goes wrong with my room it was Charlene that shared her new dorm for my 1^st night; still remember Jing Wen, even as the LCP who has lots of stuff to deal with everyday, yet invited me to attend AMAN which became one of the sweetest memories in Malaysia, still remember Derek and Vincent were so kind to drive me to the AMAN place and Kajang ,and of course there are so many other sweet AIESECers that I could not name one by one, it is them that make me feel AIESEC UKM was like my 2^nd home here.

The work

The 1^st day I joined the financial training from the Finance director together with the Finance and Marketing department members, it was so cool to get the professional Finance knowledge here. The second day, through the conversation with Jing Wen, I got a general idea of the LC here and later I joined the OC meeting and later got a training from Ameen on Flash which was really impressive. Although there seems to be a big challenge facing in front of us for finding sponsor, however I do enjoy the AIESECers’s passion and hardworking, so guys from TRP, I really cannot help waiting to work with you !

The Life

Well I am so glad to live in such beautiful garden-UKM, the accommodation is quite cool, with a quite thoughtful Chinese roommate; the food here is a collection of Malay, Chinese and India, quite diversified and yummy; and the school transportation is quite convenient with several buses taking us either to the center of campus or KTM, so the life here seems pretty cool, don’t need to worry too much on it .

So for the first 4 days of my ceedership, though facing some culture shock, I do enjoy the people, the work and the life here.

written by :

Megan Ma (ceeder of The Red Project)

The Red Team welcomes you

2010-01-18T15:38:00.003+08:00

The Red Agents in The Red Project

AIESEC in UKM

welcomes YOU,

Jeong Yoo Jin

Local Committee AIESEC in Korea University, AIESEC in South Korea!

and

Iqbal Lhutfi

Local Committee AIESEC in Andalas University, AIESEC in Indonesia!

woohoo~~

The Red Team welcomes you

2010-01-13T02:40:00.008+08:00

The Red Agents in The Red Project

AIESEC in UKM

welcomes you,

MEGAN...

woohoo *applauds*

Clara International Aesthetic College- 30 September 2009

2009-10-12T02:20:00.002+08:00

Clara was spectacular, the students were mainly female and the attendance was about 30 students. As presenters we really enjoyed it cause the students were very proactive. Thanks for your participation and we look forward to visit you again in future.

Rahim Kajai Residential College, UKM - 14 September 2009

2009-10-03T21:05:00.002+08:00

The workshop was conducted at night in front of a crowd of 30 students. In this workshop a condom demo was carried out and to some of the students it was their first time to get knowledge on how to use it. The crowd was impressive indeed. In the end they got to sing a happy birthday song to one of the presenter (Rowena). We would like to thank all the participants.

Aminuddin Baki Residential College, UKM - 2 September 2009

2009-10-03T20:40:00.003+08:00

The workshop was conducted by one old intern(Katka) and three new ones (Arthur, Rowena, Marta) . The audience were mainly university students about 40 of them. There was a positive response on their side as they kept asking questions on HIV/AIDS issues. it was a great workshop and everyone enjoyed it.

Workshop at Dasein Academy of Art - 27th of August 2009

2009-08-29T17:53:00.003+08:00

Daphne, Aiza, Amna and Maria conducted a workshop at Dasein Academy of art in front of a crowd of about 50 people. The new interns accompanied to the workshop to observe. The workshop went fine, and the audience seemed to enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who came, and hope to see you again!

Workshop at McKinsey & Company - 21st of August 2009

2009-08-28T16:52:00.003+08:00

Today, we (Mattias, Daphne, Aiza, Mariette, Hyunmi) conducted a workshop at McKinsey & Company's office in KLCC. The view was amazing from the 57th floor, and so was the workshop. The workshop was very different from what we have done before. We didn't use any presentation (no powerpoint!), and left it very flexible and open. We started with expectation settings and questions from the participants. We found out quickly that the participants were very knowledgeable and easy to discuss with. We concluded the workshop with a discussion about three value-based statements. Very interesting points and information came up during this session. We were all impressed by the participants. All in all, this was the best workshop I (Mattias) have ever conducted. We learned a lot from these great people. Sincere thanks to McKinsey & Company, the participants and our lovely hostess! Hope to come back soon!

Workshop at UKM - 19th of August 2009

2009-08-26T16:51:00.003+08:00

Cindy, Amna, Katka and Meri conducted a short workshop at UKM during an AIESEC gathering night. It was a nice event and most of the participants were familiar with the project from before. Things went smoothly and it was enjoyable. Thanks to all the listeners!

Workshop at MAHSA College - 18th of August 2009

2009-08-26T16:10:00.007+08:00

Me (Mattias), Amna, Cindy, Katka and our nice new intern Maria went for a workshop at the MAHSA College. The workshop was conducted for a large group of nursing students (80-100 people). We got a very warm welcome from the dean and our contact person.

The workshop went really good, and both us and the audience had a really good time. After the presentations and discussions, one of the nursing students got the microphone and started to sing a famous Indian song. Then the rest of the audience joined in. They continued by performing the Malaysian national anthem for us. A very thrilling experience indeed! Since they were so nice and sang for us, we sang some songs for them. Amna sang a Hindi song, Katka a Czech children's song, Maria a song from Hong Kong, and me and Cindy a Chinese song I learnt last year.

We hope that we will be able to come back to conduct more workshops soon! Thank you MAHSA College!

12 August: HIV Training from MAC

2009-08-17T16:35:00.004+08:00

We were paid a visit from Victor, a representative from Malaysian AIDS Council, today to recieve training on how to conduct HIV/AIDS awareness workshops. We had useful discussions on HIV/AIDS-related issues and how to convey them to different sets of audiences. He shared with us knowledge he gained from travelling around the world in his job, which was helpful.

We went through most parts of our workshops, and he showed us some activities and energizers we could use while conducting workshops.

One of the most interesting parts with this training session was the presentations of, and discussions about, the HIV/AIDS situation in our respective countries. It really illustrated how large the differences are in how the issue is percieved in different countries, the reasons for it, and how different countries deal with it.

Most of us feel better equipped to conduct workshops after this day.

On behalf of all the interns, we would like to thank Victor and MAC for their dedication and time. Welcome back!

Red Agent Mattias

7-9 August: Trip to Pulau Besar

2009-08-17T15:12:00.008+08:00

All the interns set out with the bus at midnight from KL towards Pulau Tioman, a supposedly very scenic and nice island on the south-eastern coast of Malaysia. Unfortunately, as we arrived at the pier where a ferry was supposed to ship us to our destination, we discovered that all boats to Tioman island were fully booked for the whole day. We made a quick decision and changed our plan to go to a smaller island nearby called Pulau Besar. After a bumpy 20 minute speedboat ride, we arrived at the island. The first thing that struck us, apart from the obvious natural beauty of the landscape, was that it was surprisingly serene and quiet even though it was a weekend - in the middle of summer holiday season.

We split up in three houses and enjoyed our airconditioning and beds. Most of us immediately changed into swim suits/swim shorts and plunged into the turqouise sea.

The remaining time on the island was mostly spent being lazy, either by the beach or in one of the restaurants. The only actual activity was a nice snorkling trip on the second day. All in all a very relaxing and calm trip. The staff in the restaurants seemed to live the laid-back islander lifestyle to the fullest, as a nasi goreng took approximately 2 hours to get after ordering it. The only disappointment I had was the lack of diving spots, which I had hoped for. Apparently, the usual groups of Pulau Besar's visitors (retired french people) lacked interest in exploring these amazing waters, so the diving business in the area was confined to Tioman island.

On the way back, we surprisingly met Emma, our house mate, in a bus station somewhere in the wilderness. She was returning from a Singapore trip.

Now it's back to the daily routine!

Red Agent Mattias

HIV-home visit

2009-07-31T13:20:00.004+08:00

Yesterday we made a visit to the HIV-houses in the north of Kuala Lumpur. These houses are supported by MAC and Standard Chartered Bank. There are three different houses. One for women, one for children and one for transsexuals.

The visit made a big impression on every Red Agent. The first person stories were very emotional and the positive way of living these people at acquired was very inspiring. One of the women living in the transsexual house, was particularly ambitious to tell fellow Malaysians about HIV and fighting the stigma.

All of us agreed that this would probably be one of the best ways to make young Malaysians aware of the growing threat of HIV.

What was also very nice to see, was how happy the children in the HIV-house were. They had lots of education material and toys available. The house looked very neat and clean, and the staff looked very caring and lovely.

It's very nice to see that these people have a place to call home, where they are safe and cared for. We wish the inhabitants of the HIV-homes all the best and lots positive living!

Workshop at Assunta Hospital - 27th of July 2009

2009-07-31T12:41:00.004+08:00

Last monday another workshop in Assunta Hospital was scheduled. Again we had the honour to tell around 25 nurses about the causes and dangers of HIV/AIDS, and of course the preventions that can be taken. We were friendly welcomed and around 10a.m. the workshop started. For some of the Red Agents that conducted the workshops - Mattias, Aiza, Mimi and I- it was the first time to educate others about HIV/AIDS so we were really excited! The workshop went smoothly and we really enjoyed it. We hope that all the nurses had the same feeling about it and that we shared with them something to remember. We also learned a lot from them!

Unfortunately, after the workshop had succesfully ended, our hospital adventure was not yet over, since Mattias was not feeling well and had to be examined by a doctor. He turned out to be dehydrated and pretty ill, so it was necessary for him to stay some nights over in the hospital, surrounded by the lovely nurses;) We hope Mattias gets well soon and 'enjoys' his stay in the hospital!

Check out the slideshow below!

26 July - Last day in Singapore

2009-07-27T18:15:00.004+08:00

Today was already our last day in Singapore and we made plans to go out quickly. Ameen took a bus back to Malaysia in the morning. Mariette decided to join our other intern Daphne to visit China town, where they visited a beautiful, three floor, Chinese temple. Estee was planning of taking us, Kanika and I, to have a nice bicycle ride along the east coast of Singapore.

After a short train ride we arrived at the beach. The beach turned out to be a big recreational area where lots of Singaporeans do sports and spend leisure time. We took a look at the water skiing cable ride and the guys doing nice stunts on the ramps and waves. After a short walked we arrived at the bicycle rental shop and we hired three bikes. Fortunately all three of us were good bikers and we had a nice ride along the coast.

Halfway we made a nice pit stop and took some pictures of the giant ships waiting to be docked. The view on the skyscrapers from the beach was very pretty.

After an hour or so, we returned the bicycles and made our way back to Estee's house. After arriving we packed our luggage, thanked Estee's family for housing us and left. Estee joined us to the airport and after a very sad goodbye we hurried to the gate. At the gate we were reunited with Daphne and Mariette and boarded the plane.

After 45 minutes we arrived in KL and we took a cab back to the intern house. Our Singapore journey had ended. It was a very nice experience, because of all the nice places we visited and of course most of all because of Estee's presence.

Workshop at KLMU - 25 July 2009

2009-07-27T17:48:00.001+08:00

At Saturday we (Hao Tien, Katka, Jeesoo and Amna) conducted our second workshop at KLMU and again the audience proved to be one of the best. Everyone was very enthusiastic and participative.

Many many thanks to our lovely crowd!

As always, check out the slideshow of the workshop below....

Singapore 25 July

2009-07-27T16:08:00.004+08:00

The day started as holidays should start, late in the morning, after a nice long sleep. As Estee had a birthday party today, she couldn't guide us through Singapore, so we went exploring on our own.

We started roaming around malls in the beginning of the afternoon and had a nice lunch at the local food court. Apart from being even colder than Malaysian malls, the Singapore malls are almost the same. After a short while we grew bored in the mall and decided to watch Estee's dance practice.

The dance rehearsal took place in a park and we went there by train. The type of dance was Lindy hop and the specific practice was about lifts, which made it quite entertaining to see. During the "show" a funny looking Indian guy, reeking heavily of alcohol and sipping a Bavaria beer, joined us and started hitting on Kanika. Kanika though didn't seem to like the male company and quickly exused herself.

After the practice was over we (Kanika, Mariette, Ameen and I) went to the famous Singapore "Night Safari" and Estee went to the party. The nightsafari is located in the heart of Singapore and consists of a huge area of beautiful rainforest.

While being in the safari park, we visited the animal show and made a 45 minute trip by tram. The show was a compilation of a few big predators showing of from the stage and some small nocturnal animals doing tricks with their instructors.

The tramride took us through the biggest part of the park in about 45 minutes. We saw lions, elephants, tigers and a lot of the other animals that live in the Himalayas, India and equatorial Africa. The night safari was especially beautiful because the exhibits looked very natural without big fences and moats.

After the night safari, we went back to Estee's house and watched a movie together. Then it was time to end another magnificent day in beautiful Singapore. Tomorrow would be our last day already and we quickly went to sleep.

Elco

Best day of my internship :)

2009-07-26T13:25:00.006+08:00

Today I woke up with excitement and curiousity as Estee had planned a surprise for me! I tried my best to guess what it was with the little hints she gave me but it was all a failure. These days in Singapore, I always wake up with a huge smile on my face as it's been 8 weeks away from the comfort of home. Every morning getting up at her place is like a paradise for me as there is a nice bed (which I have been longing for quite long!) and her family is very welcoming and nice. Estee if you are reading this, Thanks for all the hospitality and pleasure :).

Estee and Elco went to the airport to fetch Mariette while the lazy bone (I) was still asleep. After having a nice breakfast at home we set our day and went Downtown.

To reach there we had to take a train. I was surprised to see the accuracy and the development in Singapore. The trainstations show the accurate time for the journey from one place to another! Sometimes I wonder whether Singapore is an Asian country!

We reached the Orchid road which was a posh area with all the sky scrappers all around! It seemed like a really busy street and no less than the New York Times Square (Just seen it in movies!) We were surprised to discover that there are 800 shopping malls in Singapore! But to our bad luck the sales session is not going on.

After that, we went to Little India as suggested by Mariette and to my luck, I got decent Indian food! It was nearly as good as Estee's surprise (I was eating chapati after 8 weeks). After having a stroll around town we went to the Bugis street. It was like an open market with really cheap stuff for sale!

By the evening I was about to burst out of curiousity for my surprise but then Estee planned to take us to the Singapore Flyer which was like a dream! We were practically on top of the world as they told us we were 165m above sealevel and we could see Indonesia and Malaysia too! After the nice view it was finally time for my surprise. It was embarrassing and confusing when we walked into a 6 star hotel, The Fullerton, in our flipflops and the guys wearing shorts! We all had glitter in our eyes when we saw all kinds of chocolates, chocolate puddings and cakes, the fountain! We all ate like we had never eaten before and I couldn't help but smile because of the amazing treat and thought.

We ended the day by walking down the Boat Quak with a beautiful view and breeze from the riverside. As I walked down, I recollected all my memories from my last visit to Singapore with my family.

This is how my best day of my internship came to an end! And thanks Estee for the cherishable memory. Love you....

-x- Kanika

Singapore 23 July

2009-07-24T11:32:00.006+08:00

Woohoo, yesterday evening we, Kanika and I, took a plane to Singapore to visit Estee. Ameen one of the other interns was also in Singapore and together with Estee, he fetched us from the Changi airport.

After a short busride we arrived at Estee's parents house, somewhere in the Tempines district. We felt home very quickly and the night was spend in a nice and soft bed.

After a good night of sleep and a hot shower we decided to go to Santosa, the manmade island in the northwest part of Singapore. Santosa looks like paradise, it's all very clean, the beach is beautiful and there's plenty of vegetation.

In the waters of Santosa we had a little sumo competition. Kanika and Ameen teamed up and I and Estee formed a team. With the girls on our shoulders Ameen and I charged into eachother and had tons of fun.

After floating around the whole afternoon, we were hungry and took the train back to vivo city. We ate at the mall and hurried back home, because Estee had a nice surprise for us.

At 8:30 we were expected to arrive at the Timbré musicpub. We had some nice drinks and a pizza and listened to the livemusic till late. When the show ended, we took a cab back to Tempines and everyone fell asleep quickly.

Tomorrow is another wonderful day in Singapore. Meri and Mariette, the other interns, will join us and we will have even more fun. Estee also said she will have a nice surprise for Kanika, but you'll read about that tomorrow......

Red Agent Elco

Country Presentations

2009-07-21T18:26:00.003+08:00

Starting from last friday we have a new tradition. Every week on friday, we'll have country presentations by one of the interns about their own country and culture. This is a nice way for the other inters to get to know more about the different countries involved in the project.

Last friday it was up to Kanika, Shreysi, Beverly and Wenda to present their countries. This because Beverly left on saturday and Shreysi and Wenda will leave tomorrow.

First it was up to Beverly to tell us about the country were the Honkies come from. She covered a fast amount of topics, from Jackie Chan to the fragrance of fish (which explains the name Honk Kong :P).

Kanika and Shreysi told us all about India and its beautiful festivals and even performed a few typical Indian Dances.

Finally it was up to Wenda to present the wonderful island of Mauritsius. She told us all about the colonial history, the beautiful nature and the growing economy of the island. Wenda also performed a real African dance wearing a traditional Mauritian skirt.

So the country presentations were a big succes! Next week it's up to Korea and Holland to show all its tradition and hidden secrets.

Workshop at Assunta Hospital - 20th of July 2009

2009-07-20T17:03:00.007+08:00

Today we (Shreysi, Wenda, Daphne, Amna, Aiza & I) conducted a workshop for the lovely nurses of Assunta Hospital. Our audience stretched from future nurses till veteran nurses and all were great participants. We managed to share with the already knowledgeable nurses some things about HIV/AIDS, but they also enlightened us about their experiences with HIV patients in the hospital and their opinions concerning various statements. Next week we will have another workshop at Assunta Hospital and we are already looking forward to it!

Check out the pictures of the workshop below....

Workshop at Nilai University College - 15 July 2009

2009-07-16T16:45:00.004+08:00

Today we facilitated a splendid workshop at Nilai University College. Our new interns visited and facilitated their first workshop and did very good.

The lovely staff of Nilai fetched us from the trainstation and brought us to the school. Thank you so much!

After we arrived, we were informed that there would be another 100 students who would like to jjoin the workshop at the same time, but in a different venue. So this situation called for the new interns to facilitate also and they did splendidly. We divided into two groups. One group was formed by Red Agents: Shreysi, Mariette, Hao Tian, Mattias and Katrina, who were responsible for the secondary school students. The second group were Red Agents: Beverly, Wenda, Mimi and Jeesoo, who were responsible for the nursing college students.

Both the workshops were very pleasant to conduct. The crowd was very participative and enjoyed the workshop. After the session we made some group pictures and were taken to their food court for a nice lunch.

Thank you all so much!!!!

Thailand trip!

2009-07-15T15:55:00.018+08:00

While the other interns (Kanika, Andreas, Estee, Elco) were in Bali, we went to Amazing Thailand.

Well, the trip started with a long bus journey to the LCCT airport. Before boarding the plane we were of course checked for any dangerous instruments in our luggage and the airport authorities took all of Beverley's and Wenda's cosmetics, because they exceeded the maximum amount of fluids you can take onboard. So they didn't have a very fortunate start of their holiday.

After a short while in the plane, we arrived in Bangkok. After leaving the airport we realised we had forgotten to write down the address of the hotel we were suppose to go to. Luckily Wenda's phone had access to internet and eventually we found out about the hotel's address. After taking a pink colour Toyoto Corolla taxi to Pattaya, we arrived at our hotel.

After checking into the hotel, we went out for a nice dinner, walked around the street, checked out the beach, and then came back to our nice room with air-conditioning and television.

The next day, we got up early and had a very nice breakfast. We went out to the beach for water sports and some relaxation. After relaxing I wanted to have a thrill and decided to go jet ski-ing for half an hour and it was totally awesome!

Beverley and I got our henna tattoos done and after relaxing and enjoying on the beach we went back to the hotel and then went out shopping. In the evening, we went for a Transexual Cabaret Show. Pattaya is famous for hosting these shows in various theatres. The show is full with dazzling talented artists and entertainers who will deliver funny performances including comedic impersonations and dramatic numbers. It was a family show, so no naked or other offending sights. The show was very nice although Beverly got very jealous looking at how clean and beautiful the skin of the transexuals was.

The next day, after our usual nice breakfast that we were getting used to very quickly, we went out to do some adventure sports. What I meant was.... bungee-jumping from a height of 60 metres. The others didn't want to join me, so it was just me. When I was finally standing on a platform high in the air, I didn't dare to jump. I said to the instructor, you'll just have to push me. And then without a warning he pushed me of the platform. It was very cool, but I was super scary and I screamed loud at the top of my voice!

After that, we went aroud Pattaya for more sight-seeing, food tasting, shopping, and had a wonderful dinner. We also watched a Thai cultural show.

On our last day, which was the 29th June, we took a ferry to Kolen island from Pattaya. It was a beautiful island with super clean beaches and the water was clear like in a clean swimming pool. It was soooo adorable to see Beverley swim like a cute little duckling with her sunglasses on in the sea.

After that we all 3 went for a very painful/relaxing Thai massage. At the massage parlour, we were actually asked to quiet down as all three of us were laughing and giggling, because the massage was so painful and akward. They didn't want us to disturbe the other customers.

All good things come to an end and so did our fun-filled and amazing trip to Thailand. On 30th of June, we took a cab to the airport and after finishing the left over money we had at the Thai airport, we said bye bye to Thailand and head to Penang for another great trip:)

Love,

Shreysi

Intern's trip to Bali!

2009-07-15T15:15:00.017+08:00

Finally, the day arrived where we (Andreas, Kanika and myself) went to Bali to have some sunny days at the beach. Just before we left, Estee decided to extend her stay in Malaysia and to join us. So we hurried to the airport, because we had not bought her ticket yet.

When we arrived at the airport, the queue at the sales office was sooooo long, that we thought we would never be able to buy a ticket in time. But with her puppy eyes and the brightest of all smile, Estee managed to convince a young lady in front of the line to let her pass :D

So we hurried to the departure hall after buying the ticket just to discovere that the flight was delayed. All the rush for nothing -_-"

One hour later, the plane finally took off for Bali and after merely three hours later we arrived at the local airport. We took a cab to Kuta Beach, the main tourist spot in Bali and after a quick stroll we found two available rooms at a nice hotel.

After a night of sleep at the hotel, we decided that the hotel wasn’t that nice after all so we set out to find a better place to call "home". After walking an hour through Kuta, searching for available rooms, we found that the nicest/cheapest hotel was just beside our old place!

So, we took one big room in the Secret Garden Inn. The room had four beds in a row, a fridge, air-conditioning and a nice bathroom.

After settling down in our new room, we went to a surf school along the beach in Kuta, to book some lessons for the next day. Having done that, we went to the beach to check out the sea and play in the waves.

In the evening, we went to a nice restaurant and had a nice western-styled dinner.

The next day, we were picked up at noon from our hotel and were brought to the surfschool for the surfing lesson. We were given our surfing gear and went to the beach for some enlightenment on the theory and basic surfing movements. After mastering the basics, we set out for the "real thing" and plunged into the sea!

What looked easy at first turned out to be quite tricky. Balancing on the fake surfboard on the beach was much easier than in the water. Especially getting up from the lying position into stance without falling was very hard.

All three of us managed into stance on the board occasionally, but the consistency wasn’t really there. This because of the strong waves who made us loose our balance. At the end of the day, Andreas, who had been dying to surf since the day he arrived in Southeast Asia, decided to take the 5-day surfing course while Estee, Kanika and I chose to do some sightseeing the next day.

Because the surfing was quite tiring we went to the hotel's swimmingpool afterwards to just float around and enjoy the afternoon sun. Actually we made this a routine and visited the pool everyday.

Of course we ended the day again with a nice meal in a very fancy restaurant. We enjoyed our pasta and during dinner Andreas discovered that the restaurant had an adjacent hotel next to it. Andreas went there to get some information about available rooms, but came back with a rather sad face. The rooms were expensive, even for Europeans ;).

The next morning, we were picked up by a van from the travelling agency who took us to the watersports center, were we did some parasailing, jet skiing and snorkeling.

In the afternoon, a chauffeur took us to Tanah Lot and Uluwatu. Tanah Lot is a beautiful Hindu temple in the sea (see picture) and Uluwatu provides a beautiful view of the coast and sea. At Uluwatu, we also watched the indigenous people perform a fire dance.

After our day trip ended, we went back to Kuta Beach to hooked up with Andreas for a very nice meal at the Havana Club, a Cuban-styled restaurant. We filled our stomachs with a huge meat covered skewer. The skewer was so big, that it had to be shared with two people. So me and Estee teamed up and so did Andreas and Kanika. The latter of the two had big difficulty finishing the plate, while me and Estee were screaming for more ;)

The next morning, was bye-bye day. We went to the airport early for our flight back to KL because a new adventure was about to start: Penang!

Looking for new Red Agents!

2009-07-12T01:19:00.005+08:00

Would YOU like to work on a project that brings a positive impact in the society?
Would YOU like to work with a diverse team of international volunteers?
Would YOU like to build up your project and people management skills?
Would YOU like to build up your leadership capacity?

If you answer yes to the above, then this opportunity might be for you because...

The Red Team is searching for new Red Agents!!!
(open to UKM students in Bangi campus only, sorry!)

Benefits

Be an HIV/AIDS champion and educate others about it.
A priceless experience working with a diverse team of international students
An opportunity to train your leadership, project, and people management skills
Free training on HIV/AIDS

We are opening up 8 positions in the team which are:
Finance and Administration Director (1 position)
Finance and Administration Executive (1 position)

External Relations Executive (1 position )

Information Management Executive (1 position )

Download the two forms here and here.

For more info, please email : Pei Ling at peiling417@gmail.com

Workshop at SMK Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi - 27 June 2009

2009-07-10T02:29:00.002+08:00

On 27th June,

Ben
Wei Lin
U-Jean and
Meri

...invaded SMK Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi!

Created with flickr slideshow.

Workshop at SMK (P) St. George - 1 July 2009

2009-07-01T23:54:00.004+08:00

Today was the first time we did a workshop in Penang and we are please to announce that SMK (P) St. George is our first Penang school we invaded!!!

There were approximately 300 students Form 4 and Lower Six who attended the workshop. The students were separated to three locations (Dewan Perdana, Dewan Bestari, Dewan Makan Asrama) where three workshops ran concurrently.

8 Red Agents which are:

Wenda
Beverley
Estee
Kanika
Elco
Shreysi
Meri
U-Jean (ex-Georgian!)

were deployed to the school on a mission to educate more youths about HIV and AIDS.

However, due to some camera error, a lot of pictures were lost :(

Here are what was left

Created with flickr slideshow.

To all Georgians, thank you for being such participative and sporting audience. We love you!

PS: The Red Project blog has reached 1000 members!

Not a member yet?

Workshop at Clara International Aesthetic College - 19 June 2009

2009-06-24T18:52:00.006+08:00

Created with flickr slideshow.

Workshop at SMK Seri Puteri - 18 June 2009

2009-06-24T18:45:00.006+08:00

Hey there Seri Puteri! We really enjoyed our time there!

Workshop at SMK Cyberjaya - 17 June 2009

2009-06-24T16:18:00.005+08:00

On 17th of June, we had the pleasure to conduct a workshop in SMK Cyberjaya! 4 Red Agents which are:

Elco
Estee
Kanika
Shreysi
U-Jean

... invaded this school!

Created with flickr slideshow.

Read our Intern's diary

2009-06-24T12:02:00.002+08:00

Bali trip 26th of June - by Elco

What’s behind the AIDS epidemic? - by Meri

Let’s get serious - by Elco

Let’s do one thing - by Prateek

dancing to the rhythm of Malaysia - by Kanika

new perspectives - by Meri

after 3 weeks internship... :] - by Carmen

training day by M.A.C. - by Estee

Meri’s first week over - by Meri

happy bday to Carmen!! - by Patty

The first post - by Andreas

workshop at Kojadi

2009-06-23T18:14:00.006+08:00

Here are some pictures from the workshop at Kojadi Institute on June 9th

2009-06-23T16:34:00.011+08:00

How would the Red Agents would look like if they

were in South Park?

Guess who is who!

create your own SP avatar

Prateek returns back to India

2009-06-22T14:42:00.011+08:00

It's some days since Prateek returned to India!

His development traineeship ended and now he is already

back, full of memories and stories to tell (as he is telling us)!

Prateek from your friends in the Red Project,

we wish you all the best!!

Here are some pictures of the last night in UKM and a video

made by us to remember your time in Malaysia and

The Red Project!

What's behind the AIDS epidemic? - by Meri

2009-06-17T19:22:00.004+08:00

What do you guys think is the root cause of AIDS epidemic?
Does it make sense to bring dozens of interns from around the world to work on HIV/AIDS awareness?
Would the world be a better place if there was no AIDS?

Looking forward to read your answers as comments!

-Meri

Want to test your knowledge?

2009-06-17T18:01:00.003+08:00

On AVERT.org we found a lot of interesting and nice quizzes!!

Here are some of them:

Challenge your knowledge and try the hard level !!

Are you fast enough?

2009-06-17T17:43:00.005+08:00

Check out this game from AVERT.org

have fun

and if you are the new top scorer let us know ;)

for those who love to save!

2009-06-16T19:07:00.005+08:00

Until 30th of June, you are a click away to tell DiGi to donate RM5 to Malaysian AIDS Foundation

Join the cause, Vote and Donate for free !!!