THIS BLOG HAS MOVED to http://youthempowered4aids.blogspot.com
Sorry for the inconvenience!!

Jessica Gingold is a student at Colorado College. She spent 3 weeks in Zambia this May to learn first hand about the HIV/AIDS Epidemic at Ranchhod Hospice and Orphan Center in Kabwe. Prior to her visit, she viewed the video, “My Brother’s Keeper”.

Following are her perceptions of the film. Jessica grew up in 1st Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, Ohio.

As "My Brother’s Keeper" came to a close, I felt my mind opening. Ifelt dry tears attempting to forge the ignorant gates I’ve unknowinglybeen protecting myself with. Normally, I would watch such a movie,feel extremely bad about it, tell a few people, and move on with mylife. This time, it wasn’t so. I watched the movie in preparationfor a trip I would be taking two days later to Zambia (the location ofthe movie). This one I couldn’t ignore. I felt the documentary wasdeep and personal. I liked that there was a present optimism, theseparticular kids will have some hope, but at the same time thedesperation is present. While the kids in the movie get a secondchance, it is so obvious that so many never will. I think the moviestruck me so deeply because I was going to go to Zambia, because I wasgoing to see this first hand. So many issues in this world are flungat us, and there are so many things to worry about, care about, cryabout. There is no way to compare pain. "Our Brother’s Keeper" is anexcellent documentary that shows a concrete issue in a concrete way.I think it is especially effective to show to American youth who sooften take so much for granted. I am still dealing with the guilt,from watching that movie and going to Zambia and seeing it first hand,that I feel simply for having a family that is in tact; simply forhaving clean water and abundant food; simply for living without fear.It is impossible to ever understand the gravity of situations that arenot deeply personal, but it is still important to try. "Our Brother’skeeper" is one tool to expose the reality of the AIDS epidemic inAfrica. It affects so much more than we ever think. I am glad Iwatched it in preparation for my trip, and I encourage more people tobecome informed and seek out tools to try to forge the road to empathyand understanding.

I apologize for the long absence of info. I've been insanely busy with school and senior activities. UUGAC has been doing a LOT of stuff.

*We are presenting a workshop at General Assembly in St. Louis Friday afternoon to raise awareness about AIDS/HIV. We will be watching a movie, right now tentatively Their Brother's Keeper, and discussing it afterwards. It will be awesome! Let us know if you are planning on attending. (Check out www.uua.org/ga for more info on General Assembly)

*Youth groups and individuals can receive Red Ribbon Recognition for their participation in a wide variety of AIDS/HIV awareness activities. Get recognized for your activism!!
(check out http://www.uua.org/news/2005/051201_aids/for more info. Red Ribbon forms will be posted soon!)

*We are definitely looking for youth interested in being a more active part of YEEHAW, so if you are interested in being a part of the continental organization, let us know!

*We are looking for t-shirt designs for YEEHAW t-shirts. We already have UUGAC t-shirts available, if you are interested, post a reply.

*Postings for AIDS/HIV awareness resources, such as movies, books, etc. coming very soon!
(if you haven't already done so, you should watch A Closer Walk and Their Brother's Keeper).

If you have any info, resources, ideas, anything, please post and let us know!

There are only bare essentials on the site right now. We're in transition mode so hopefully over the Holidays I will be able to add resources, links, ideas, etc. For now, the best place to go is definitely http://uuglobalaids.org
Any resources you have and want to post are definitely welcome.

I (and the rest of the UUGAC) would absolutely LOVE to hear of anything you or your community did for World AIDS Day, Dec. 1st.

Happy Activism!
Erica

Welcome to YEEHAW. Thats right, YEEHAW. We youth are that excited to be educating others about AIDS and HIV. YEEHAW is part of a grassroots organization known as the Unitarian Universalist Global AIDS Coalition. UUGAC has just recently hit the big time, becoming an affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Meanwhile, the organization as a whole is still very small run by a dedicated group of volunteers. YEEHAW is being initiated by the UUGAC Youth Representative, Erica Lindegren, and the UUGAC Youth Advisor, Toniann Reid. YEEHAW just opened its doors in September 2005, so we are incredibly open for suggestions. Goals for the future include: a committee of officers to help support, educate, and spread awareness and activism thoughout the US and Canada. The UUGAC focuses more strongly on AIDS in Africa as part of its global focus, and while that aspect is incredibly important to YEEHAW, it is difficult financially and time-wise for most youth to contribute a lot of work overseas, and that is why YEEHAW's focus will be on more of a continental level. Once YEEHAW gets its feet firmly planted on the ground, we will begin to work on a broader scale, with projects, fundraisers, etc. Right now, we just hope to be support base and inspiration for youth wanting to get more involved in AIDS initiatives. Please feel free to post any news, commentary, issues, action items, questions, concerns, etc you might have!!