One week before we leave for the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto! I am anxious to leave, but can’t believe that it is already so soon. Only two years ago I was getting ready to attend the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand with my organization, Advocates for Youth. How did two years already pass by? How different will the conference be this year? I met so many amazing people in Bangkok, will any of them be here? I hope to reestablish connection with friends I have lost touch with over the last couple of years.
At the past three International AIDS Conferences, Advocates for Youth has sent a delegation of young people from around the world. And I am lucky to be a part of it twice. My peers and I advocate for comprehensive HIV prevention programming, which includes information about abstinence and condoms. We highlight the dangers of the abstinence-only until marriage policies currently being exported by the United States government, my government. We also work to promote youth participation as part of the Toronto YouthForce, a coalition of organizations focused on youth issues.
Can’t wait to get going … now I just have to make sure I can get all my work done so I can be out of the office for two weeks!
