Shipping Out!

The AIDSTanzania team is leaving the country! This year our in-country team consists of six students: Erin, Danny B., Carrie, Rhiannon, Melissa, and team leader Marigene. Except for trip veteran Marigene, this is everyone’s first AIDSTanzania trip, and I think I speak for all of us when I say: we are SO STOKED!

With our yellow fever vaccinations, visas, and full-to-the-brim carry-ons at the ready, we’re departing from DC on Monday evening and will be spending — if I accounted for the time difference correctly — 9.5 million hours in flight. We’ll be stopping over in Frankfurt and then in Addis Ababa before finally landing at Kilimanjaro airport. Once in Tanzania we’ll be traveling to Arusha where we’ll be staying and working in the community. There we will be distributing the educational booklets we created, hosting an HIV testing day, collaborating with students from the local university, and participating in a host of other programs and activities.

I know I for one can’t WAIT to see what this trip holds for us. Stay tuned to hear what happens!

– Rhiannon

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Club Raises Awareness for Disaffected Children in Tanzania

This article, published in the Arizona Daily Wildcat (the newspaper for the University of Arizona), discusses an international service trip similar to AIDSTanzania at William and Mary. It’s called Support for International Change, and it sends groups of students to Tanzania to promote HIV testing and awareness in northern Tanzania.

As one group member described, the trips are like a study abroad experience, except you’re volunteering as a member of the community and getting involved with helping others, as opposed to just looking. That sums it up quite well. Keep up the good work, Support for International Change!

Re-visiting an old article…

Visit this William and Mary News link to get a peek into W&M’s take on AIDSTanzania and a great video and slideshow of our group.

The article might be a year old, but it still proclaims AIDSTanzania’s mission, and hey – it’s time to reflect on the past, it’s Homecoming weekend!

Max Cameron and Lwanda Mgere during an HIV biology lesson

WAN Tests 22 W&M Students Today

Thanks to the Mu Upsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Theta and AIDSTanzania, WAN (Williamsburg AIDS Network) tested 22 students at the College of William and Mary today. Visit http://www.williamsburgaidsnetwork.org/ for more information about WAN’s free HIV testing every week Monday through Thursday 9am-4pm.

AIDSTanzania wins Service Trip of the Year

At William and Mary’s annual “Celebration of Service” last Tuesday at the Kimball Theater, AIDSTanzania (that’s us, folks!) was honored with the Service Trip of the Year award.

Melody Porter, who presented the award, spoke of our group’s sustainable mission, projects such as the Tusaidiane Center, and drive to expand our reach with a new domestic trip next year.  She also commented on our team’s personality, humor, and spunk, since we had the opportunity of working with her during our most recent trip.

Of course we are honored for the award, but we know that our focus is on Tanzania, on the worldwide AIDS epidemic, and on the work and fundraising that needs to be done in order for our group to continue to make a change.  The speaker of the night, Allison Anoll, inspired us to be thankful for what has already been accomplished but optimistic and dedicated to what lies ahead.

Devin Oller, AIDSTanzania’s past president and graduating senior, was also honored with a “Walk the Talk” senior award for his long-term committment to service and personal sacrifice for others.

Congratulations AIDSTanzania, Devin, and THANK YOU to all of those who make our service possible.

Free HIV Testing Event

Know Your Status

On Saturday, April 25 our group is hosting a FREE HIV testing event at the College of William and Mary!

The testing will be provided by WAN (Williamsburg AIDS Network), and will be confidential in the James Room upstairs in the Sadler Center.  There will be entertainment by Passing Notes, Reveille, John Kelly and the Quick Snipes, Irish Dance Club, Clayton Perry, and more in Lodge 1 throughout the day, as well as showings of our documentary.  We will also be selling our jewelry from Tanzania.

The test WAN is using is a rapid test, meaning it only takes 20 minutes for the results and it just takes a cheek swab!

KNOW YOUR STATUS

Congressman Wittman visits Williamsburg with ONE campaign

The ONE Campaign brings Congressman Wittman to the Williamsburg Library this afternoon to talk about global poverty and development.  We are sending a few AIDSTanzania members since this issue relates to our efforts both in Tanzania as well as our beginning efforts domestically.  http://www.one.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=850&id=898-3923262-uczMKOx&t=1

Old Articles on AIDSTanzania from W&M News

While googling “AIDSTanzania,” (try it, we are the first thing that comes up!), I came across old articles written by W&M about our group’s first trip. A good read into our history. A link to the article is here.

Jenn Guyant in Tanzania

Documentary Showing

Come to the first public screening of our organization’s documentary!

Wednesday, November 19, 7:30pm

Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland Street (two blocks from the College and Merchants Square)

Sponsored by the Williamsburg Regional Library and W&M’s Swem Library