EIL Intercultural Learning

Open Heart House Quilt

Sarah Brazil, with a fellow Dublin Rose contestant, at the Flora Women's Mini-Marathon

Nearly a year on since my journey with EIL Ireland began and I find myself in a position of great gratitude, not only for the opportunity to travel to South Africa, the opportunity to taste a culture, meet a people and witness a landscape so beautiful and varied but now in particular, I am truly grateful for being introduced to the issues of HIV in Ireland, to be given the opportunity to become more aware, less ignorant to the issues of our own citizens as well as those from other countries.

Sarah Brazil, pictured back row, second from left, with her fellow Dublin Rose contestants. Sarah's is participating in the Dublin Rose contest as a representative of Open Heart House. The Dublin Rose contest serves as a platform for Sarah to discuss her role as a volunteer with Open Heart House and her experience working as part of this community, as well as her time working with HIV & AIDS issues in South Africa, as part of EIL's 2012 Global Awareness Programme.

Quilt-making at Open Heart House, Dublin. "This initiative was important in relieving the stigma associated with HIV in a creative way... Each square was different, each so personal to its’ creator, each a symbol of hope, life and love"

Quilt-making at Open Heart House, Dublin. "This initiative was important in relieving the stigma associated with HIV in a creative way... Each square was different, each so personal to its’ creator, each a symbol of hope, life and love"

Quilt-making at Open Heart House, Dublin. "This initiative was important in relieving the stigma associated with HIV in a creative way... Each square was different, each so personal to its’ creator, each a symbol of hope, life and love"

Every Monday morning ward rounds take place. This meeting includes the doctor, nurses, carers, social workers, the occupational therapist, the dietician and the project manager. During this meeting each child's social circumstances, health and general well being is discussed and a plan is drawn up depending on the issues at hand. It is a great insight into the working of the project and the complexity surrounding each case.

I haven’t really explained anything about HIV yet so I am going to run through some of the basics that I have learned since participating in this programme. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that results in the progressive deterioration of the immune system. A person is diagnosed with AIDS when their immune system is too weak to fight off infections. Being HIV positive or having the HIV virus is not the same as having AIDS. Many people with HIV do not get sick for many years. Over the years HIV weakens the immune system to a point where it can no longer fight off infection.

6 weeks in and only 2 remain. I can safely say that I have enjoyed every minute of each day and have developed and grown as a person through both my volunteering and travel experiences.

The past couple of weeks have been quite hectic in the organisation where we are working. From discharges of healthy children to admissions of ill ones into hospital, it is safe to say that predicting the events of even one day proves quite impossible. That being said the children constantly light up our days with their own individual bravery, innocence and spirits.