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6:13 PM Saturday, June 5, 2010
{ Workshops #2 }
Another Saturday fully devoted to YFC workshops, but the takeaways were great and worthwhile.
1) Events Management Workshop We went through the entire process of events management with a young and aspiring graduate of SMU, Mr Jabriel (yes, not spelt with a ‘G’).
Step 1: Initiation (goal setting and critical thinking) Step 2: Planning (Actions plans, programme outline, timelines, contingency plans) Step 3: Execution (THINK FAST, ACT FAST – like firemen) Step 4: Closure (Settle remaining logistics and reflect upon initial goals)
After the entire workshop, it dawned upon us that we had been so focused on all our ACTION, we’ve actually left out quite a lot the PLANNING. We realized that we had deviated from our original goals and action plans a lot, and have been so engrossed in making our products and recruiting volunteers that we had forgotten to come up with new action plans, new objectives and new timeline for ourselves! We had become rather short sighted, with no goals or big plans, focusing solely on our upcoming street sales.
Thus, we decided to come up with a goal of 10 000 bottles of jellybeans to be sold, and new approaches to sell our jellybeans (which came about after meeting our mentor – Chirag!). After our meeting with Chirag, which happened after the workshop, we decided to have three ways of outreach – public, school and corporate sales. We now hope to expand our reach to hospitals to purchase our jellybeans, as well as other companies who are interested in supporting our cause.
2) Media Relations Workshop Ms Caren from Citbank imparted us important skills which will enable us to get ourselves on the papers (if we try hard enough). It seems like the process of getting ourselves onto the papers isn’t going to be an easy one – because there are so many activities going on everyday – we need to be very newsworthy. Well, thankfully, we have a friend who is a correspondent of the Chinese papers – Zao Bao, so hopefully, she will be willing to help us – Li Khee! Well, but even though it isn’t going to be easy, we may still try to get ourselves on the papers if need be – to reach out to more people (especially so if we get ourselves on The Straits Times which has super high readership in Singapore). And Ms Caren’s tips about writing in to the press will come in extremely handy!
We really hope that more people can get to know about HIV/AIDs and correct the misconceptions and bust the myths about HIV/AIDs! Singaporeans truly need “HIV” education, and it isn’t going to be easy for us, since HIV/AIDs is such a taboo topic here. Newspapers, which are seen as very reliable and believable, will be a good way to start.
All the best to us! Posted by: Yuan Teng
6:13 PM Saturday, June 5, 2010
{ Workshops #2 }
Another Saturday fully devoted to YFC workshops, but the takeaways were great and worthwhile.
1) Events Management Workshop We went through the entire process of events management with a young and aspiring graduate of SMU, Mr Jabriel (yes, not spelt with a ‘G’).
Step 1: Initiation (goal setting and critical thinking) Step 2: Planning (Actions plans, programme outline, timelines, contingency plans) Step 3: Execution (THINK FAST, ACT FAST – like firemen) Step 4: Closure (Settle remaining logistics and reflect upon initial goals)
After the entire workshop, it dawned upon us that we had been so focused on all our ACTION, we’ve actually left out quite a lot the PLANNING. We realized that we had deviated from our original goals and action plans a lot, and have been so engrossed in making our products and recruiting volunteers that we had forgotten to come up with new action plans, new objectives and new timeline for ourselves! We had become rather short sighted, with no goals or big plans, focusing solely on our upcoming street sales.
Thus, we decided to come up with a goal of 10 000 bottles of jellybeans to be sold, and new approaches to sell our jellybeans (which came about after meeting our mentor – Chirag!). After our meeting with Chirag, which happened after the workshop, we decided to have three ways of outreach – public, school and corporate sales. We now hope to expand our reach to hospitals to purchase our jellybeans, as well as other companies who are interested in supporting our cause.
2) Media Relations Workshop Ms Caren from Citbank imparted us important skills which will enable us to get ourselves on the papers (if we try hard enough). It seems like the process of getting ourselves onto the papers isn’t going to be an easy one – because there are so many activities going on everyday – we need to be very newsworthy. Well, thankfully, we have a friend who is a correspondent of the Chinese papers – Zao Bao, so hopefully, she will be willing to help us – Li Khee! Well, but even though it isn’t going to be easy, we may still try to get ourselves on the papers if need be – to reach out to more people (especially so if we get ourselves on The Straits Times which has super high readership in Singapore). And Ms Caren’s tips about writing in to the press will come in extremely handy!
We really hope that more people can get to know about HIV/AIDs and correct the misconceptions and bust the myths about HIV/AIDs! Singaporeans truly need “HIV” education, and it isn’t going to be easy for us, since HIV/AIDs is such a taboo topic here. Newspapers, which are seen as very reliable and believable, will be a good way to start.
All the best to us! Posted by: Yuan Teng
Youth CrusAIDers
(left to right) Teo Eng Han, Qiu Yunfei, Lee Cheryl, Yueh Yuan Teng
Who Are We We are a team of students, and we are currently doing a project under the Citibank-Youth for Causes project grant. We are liaising with Action for AIDS as our VWO for our fund-raising efforts. All the funds that we are intending to raise throughout the course of our project will be directed to the AIDS beneficiaries from our VWO.
What is Youth for Causes? Put together by Citibank and YMCA of Singapore, Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes (YFC) offers teens the platform to turn their ideas into reality, and mentors from both organisations will be there to guide, help and support.
Our VWO Action for Aids Singapore
Quick Facts:
a. Non-profit organisation
b. Formed in 1988
c. Operate the only anonymous HIV-testing facility in Singapore
Objectives:
a. Provide support and assistance to people living with HIV and AIDS
b. Raise awareness of HIV and AIDS infection
c. Remove stigma against HIV and AIDS patients and their loved ones
d. Encourage AIDS-related research locally
How Our Beneficiaries Benefit From Our Project All proceeds from our fund-raising efforts will go to Action for Aids Singapore, which provides support to people whose lives are affected by HIV/Aids in one way or another. The three funds under Action for Aids Singapore are:
-Care for the Family Fund: Subsidies for families experiencing income disruption as their HIV-infected sole breadwinner is temporarily unable to work due to HIV-caused illnesses.
-Medication Fund: Subsidies for HIV victims’ medication, which allows them to live normally and carry on with life
-HIV Pregnant Mothers’ Fund: Subsidize the medication for HIV positive pregnant mothers so that their child can be born healthy
How Do We Intend To Raise Funds We intend to do so through a three prong approach:
1. School outreach: Sales of products to various schools
2. Public outreach: Street sales
3. Corporate outreach: Sales of products to companies/ organisations
Our goal (to be achieved by 12th September 2010): Number of bottles of jellybeans sold: 10000 bottles
Our Products 1. Jellybeans (The number of jellybeans that are found in each medical bottle represents the amount of medication that our beneficiaries need to take in a period of 5 days.)
2. Pegs
3. Stress balls
Be A Volunteer!
Activity 1: Actual sales of jelly beans
none at the moment
To Be A Volunteer... 1.No prior experience required!
(half an hour training session would be held before the actual carrying out of any one of the above + Handbook will be provided for all volunteers’ reference)
2. Kindly fill up and submit your particulars below:
If you have any queries, feel free to email youthcrusaiders@gmail.com to clarify them!
Thank you!
Leave a Legacy!
Help Us Improve!
Facts & Figures about HIV
Statistics of HIV/AIDs in Singapore
As of the end of 2008:
3941 cases of HIV infected Singaporeans (but there may be more who remain undiagnosed):
>1228 of these people have died
>914 have AIDs-related illnesses
>1799 are asymptomatic HIV carriers
More information about HIV/AIDs
AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency System
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HIV is the virus which causes AIDs. Over time, HIV can weaken one’s immune system, leaving the victim susceptible to infections which can be prevented in a normal person. An AIDs diagnosis is done by a physician based on CD4 counts or symptoms, and usually occurs some time after one is infected with HIV.
How is HIV virus spread: 1) Through sexual intercourse
>body discharge involved: semen or vaginal discharge
2) Through sharing needles or unsterile medical instrument
>a. body fluid involved: blood
3) Infection during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding
HIV/AIDs is not curable, but the condition can be controlled with medication. It is a chronic illness which needs care and attention.
Test yourself!
True or False?
1. HIV can spread through mosquito bites.
2. You can get AIDS from sharing food with a person with AIDS.
3. The risk of HIV spreading is increased by sharing used needles/ syringes.
4. Condoms are 100% effective against AIDS.
5. HIV virus dies upon contact with air in 30s.
6. Mothers can transmit the HIV virus through breastfeeding.
Ans: F, F, T, F, T, T
Food for thought…
Are all HIV-positive victims responsible for their plight? If your answer is yes, think again. What about children who contracted the virus from their HIV-positive mothers? What about faithful spouses who happen to have contracted the virus from their unfaithful partners?
People who have volunteered
Amanda Chan
Ang Wei Loong
Bryson Lim
Charles Tan
Eusebio D'Almeida
Fiona Lim
John Choo
Liu Fuxin
Nobelle Liew
Novia Liew
Sabrina Tay
Shaun Thium
Stanley Koo
Tuieng Seok Yin
