Global Awareness Programme
Application period now open (Deadline - March 26, 2010, 5 p.m.)
What is it all about?
33 Million People are living with HIV. The response to AIDS depends on the strength of individulas and communities. This is your chance to make a difference!
The EIL Global Awareness Programme is an exciting Training, Volunteering and Awareness raising project focusing on HIV & AIDS.
Every year four people are chosen to participate on the programme.
- The participants attend a training on HIV&AIDS and media Skills
- Volunteer for 8 weeks in an HIV&AIDS organisation in South Africa or Nigeria
- Plan and Implement an awareness raising campaign around HIV&AIDS on their return in Ireland
To apply download and complete the application form (Word/PDF). The closing date for applications is the 26th of March at 5 p.m. An adjudication panel will select the nominees who are most suitable in their opinion. Nominees will be invited to attend interviews in Dublin on the last two Saturdays of April 2010. The results will be announced in May 2010.
For more info email caterina@eilireland.org or call Caterina on 1850 292939.
Programme details
Step 1: Training
The training stage aims to familiarise the volunteers with the goals of the Global Awareness Programme and give them the basic skills and resources they need to be effective in-country. Therefore as a participant on the programme you will attend:
- 1 day introduction to the programme including workshops on development issues and tips & ideas for fundraising
- 2 day course on Understanding HIV in Development and Community Responses to HIV
- 1 day workshop on media, campaigning and awareness raising skills
- 1 day debriefing workshop on return
Step 2: Volunteering in South Africa or Nigeria for 8 weeks
Volunteering internationally is a unique cross-cultural experience. Working with local community organizations in South Africa or Nigeria you will be helping in the fight against the spread of HIV&AIDS. The start date is flexible, however the placement period is between mid June and mid September. Once there you will:
- Take part in an orientation training upon arrival
- Volunteer in a HIV&AIDS local project
- Gathering materials & stories for your awareness raising campaign in Ireland
- Live with a local family
- Be supported by in-country staff
Typical volunteer activities in a Care Centre for HIV+ children in South Africa
- Help with meals and medicine
- Take the children to creche
- Pick up any shopping/donations/medication that is needed
- Touring projects satellite sites with the project's staff
- Drive the social workers into and around the community
- Gather materials and stories, understanding challanges within different communities
- Visit day hospitals
- Collecting chidren at school
- Playing time
Typical volunteer activities in a care and support project in Nigeria
- Facilitating workshops on HIV&AIDS awareness in schools, colleges, community groups
- Support in facilitating group meetings
- Gather stories
- Support to staff and local volunteers
Step 3: Awareness raising in Ireland
The Awareness raising campaign is the key aspect of the EIL Global Awareness Programme. HIV&AIDS is not solely a Developing Countries' or isolated issue. Positive social action involves considerable shifts in Western thinking as well as government policy. Stigma and discrimination remain a huge challenge.
From the beginning you will be encouraged to plan and implement an awareness-raising campaign, thinking about how you could involve members of your communities in your experience before, during and after the overseas element. As a participant on the EIL Global Awareness Programme you will be well positioned to lead sustained and focused public engagement around HIV&AIDS in Ireland, giving voice to the stories of the people you have being living and working with overseas.
Past participants have been engaged in organising many different activities to promote awareness of HIV related issues and fundraise. This included facilitating workshops in schools and local communities, giving talks, organising quiz on HIV&AIDS issues, organising coffee events writing articles to local newspapers.
Is it for you?
- Are you over 18 years of age?
- Are you committed to learning and to helping others learn more about HIV&AIDS?
- Are you flexible and eager to learn about another culture?
- Are you willing to make a positive contribution to communities in South Africa or Nigeria and Ireland?
No special skills or qualifications are required, but a commitment to challenge peoples’ attitudes about HIV&AIDS and take action on a global crisis is essential!
Covering the costs
Participants will receive a grant from EIL to cover a substantial part of the costs. This is a co-funded programme and each participant will be asked to rise €1500 to cover the remaining costs. Costs include Dtalk Course on HIV&AIDS, media&campaigning training, pre-departure and debriefing workshops, flights, insurance, programme costs relating to the project, host family accommodation, in-country support for the duration of your placement and support from EIL staff during the whole programme.
Blogs
119 people die every hour from AIDS, 31 of those are children. WHAT YOU CAN DO!
Chantelle Wallace. Global Awareness Programme travel award winner 2007
Media coverage
GAP participants interviewed on Newstalk's Global Village
Past volunteers
Global Awareness Programme 2009: the Volunteers
Ciara, Lynda, Karen and Barry are the 2009 Global Awarenness Volunteers. They volunteered in South Africa and Nigeria in local projects focussing on HIV&AIDS last summer. Back in Ireland, they are now leading an awareness raising campaign on HIV&AIDS.
South Africa
Lynda Piper Roche
Lynda lives in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. She is very passionate and energetic. She has a degree in Business, Economic and Social Studies and a keen interest in development issues. She is currently studying Nutritional Therapy and working in a home support service for elderly and vulnerable people in Wicklow.
We have asked Lynda some questions about her expectations, motivation and feelings before she left. This is what she told us during the interview. While in South Africa, Lynda writes about her volunteer experience, read her blog here.
On the 7th of October The Bray People covered Lynda Piper-Roche's story in the articel Out of Africa. Read the article...
Ciara Cunningham
Ciara
is from Roscommon. She is very enthusiastic and mature person. She has
a degree in Property economics. She has been working for different
business companies in Dublin and she will go back to study next
September.
She volunteers every week with St Vincent De Paul running activities for children in arts and crafts, music and drama.
We have asked Ciara some questions about her expectations, motivation and feelings before she left. This is what she told us during the interview. While in South Africa, Ciara writes about her volunteer experience, read her blog here.
On June 26, 2009 The Roscommon People covered Ciara Cunningham's story in the article Support Ciara’s African work at local coffee morning. Read the article...
On August 14, 2009 The Roscommon People covered Ciara Cunningham's story in the article Roscommon, Cape Town and a boy called Chkwan. Read the article...
On September 18, 2009 The Roscommon People covered Ciara Cunningham's story in the article The sad plight of an AIDS orphan. Read the article...
Nigeria
Karen Reidy
Karen is from Kilkenny and she is currently living in Dublin. She has a degree in Media Arts and she will start a Master in Development Studies next September. She has previous volunteer experience with special needs children in Belarus. She is very enthusiastic person and she is a good communicator, keen photographer and she works as video editor.
While volunteering in Nigeria, Karen writes her own blog on the EIL website. Click here to read Karen's blog.
On July 1, 2009 The Kilkenny People covered the story of Karen Reidy in the article From Nigeria with toothpaste. This is what Karen recounted to the newspaper before she left earlier this month. Read the article...
Barry Morrissey
Barry is originally from Thomastown, in Co. Kilkenny. He is a Primary Teacher and he has been working in a developing school in Dublin 15 for the last three years. He has travelled around most of Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia. He also spent one year and a half working in Spain.
We have asked Barry some questions about his expectations, motivation and feelings before he left. This is what he told us during the interview.
While volunteering in Nigeria, Barry writes his own blog on the EIL website. Click here to read Barry's blog.
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