Celebration of World AIDS Day in Aust Agder

Joint Planning meeting of International youth group 

and Arendal Red cross Youth on 23rd November

Preparing Red Ribbons

 Wrapping up condoms on Red Cross Youths Wrappers

Writing Big Banners which says "IKKE HIV VETTET BRUK KONDOM"

All the youth volunteers gathered in the Aust Agder Røde Kors office at 14:30 and took all the necessary things with us and began preparing our stand in front of the Culture house by 15:00.

We then started distributing brochures and condoms to the passing youths and adults. Volunteers were divided in pieces and scattered around the city, some went inside the shopping center “Amfi Arena” and some at the city center.

Those who seemed the most interested came to our stand and participated in a Quiz about HIV and demonstrations of the correct way of   using condoms.

For the gathering crowd, we played a condom fighting game with some of the visitors at the stand.

After the crowd gathered we auctioned off men as a way of showing the connection between

human trafficking and HIV.

After it had become dark, we light candles in the shape of the red AIDS ribbon.

The tasks had been divided among the volunteers and each volunteer felt they participated and had a important role in the program, something that made it more fruitful and energetic. Every volunteer was dedicated to complete the tasks assigned to them and contributing equally to the program. It was -3 degree Centigrade outside and the volunteers were enjoying their work even tough they were freezing. When we were talking about HIV/AIDS there, it was shocking that people knew so very little about it!

The same day Tvedestrand Youth Group had a stand from 10 am to 5 pm at the shopping mall in Tvedestrand. They counted about eight people while they talked and handed out information concerning HIV/AIDS. In addition, by focusing on Active Choice by handing out condoms, they managed to get about 4000kr for the cause.
In addition, they had invited the local newspaper in order to get the cause represented in the media.


Differences in the Celebration between Norway and Nepal:

Normally, in Nepal we use to have public rally, a march of Red Cross volunteers, creating awareness about the things and also some seminars, street dramas, some speech competitions, but here every youth group were focused to keep their stand the busiest place. This was new to us but i also found it effective in the context of Norway, where people have less time to see whole dramatic plays. Here people don’t even gather if they see a huge mass of youths gathered, they don’t notice you unless you do some creative activities. Andy in Tvedestrand youth group played guitar to attract people. Also, the small role-plays are suitable, making the visitors involved in the activities. Free distribution of condoms we found is to be the best way to attract youths here because most of them were interested in it. Had it been in Nepal they would have walked away as if they hadn’t seen you.
(The distribution are mostly being done in private - one of the most effective ways of condom distribution is by placement in public WC’s)
Almost none of the adult volunteers were interested in celebrating the world AIDS day. This was something that surprised us very much.