Today I’m feeling oddly out of place, sitting in the media centre with many seasoned journalists and grey-haired men, most with official-looking notepads and camera cases slung casually over one shoulder. Who am I and what am I doing here?
Last night was a way more youth-friendly atmosphere, where youth participants of the conference were invited to the Olympic Spirit for food, music, dancing, and speeches from an impressive group of AIDS activists and advocates. At the height of celebrity was the keynote from Alicia Keys, who is using her status as a music icon to mean something, unlike so many who merely revel in their own fame and fortune. Alicia Keys has co-founded Keep a Child Alive, and as a woman as old as the AIDS epidemic, she has recognized the importance of youth leaders in the fight against the disease.
The vibe in the Olympic Spirit was infectiously positive, yet in some ways I could feel that everyone was bracing themselves for a long week ahead. Knowing that it would take a lot of spitting and yelling to get youth issues to the fore, understanding that the exclusive youth-club atmosphere would be ending shortly, the night gave me a reinforced feeling of solidarity within the group.
Here, all you have to do is smile at a young-ish looking person, and you get a response that says “I’m with ya.” Let’s push to extend this instant friendship to be a global reality. Goodness knows that we need to form adult-youth partnerships, but it never hurts to have the support of one another.
