GWU Wins the World AIDS Day Super-Challenge!

December 9th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

20,000 points go to George Washington University for winning the World AIDS Day event challenge — for the second time in a row! That’s right, GW took the World AIDS Day prize last year as well. That’s some amazing commitment to getting word out about one of the deadliest preventable diseases in the world.

GW’s OCC Chapter joined the Student Global AIDS Coalition on their campus to help organize a whole week of events to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS in DC. The events began on Monday, December 1st with a display in University Yard, a large grassy area of GWU. They had balloons lining the pathway through University Yard, with certain sections of balloons cordoned off to represent those who have died of AIDS in the past few months in the Washington, DC area.

Also on Monday, the Student Global AIDS Coalition tabled in Kogan Plaza, a place many students use as a shortcut to get to their classes. During this tabling session, a few ONE GW members were in charge of speaking to those who approached the table, while others handed out free ribbons, coffee, condoms, pastries, and information. The free stuff got a lot of attention from people passing by on their way to classes or work.

On Tuesday, they held a panel discussion entitled “Fact vs. Fiction: The Truth About HIV/AIDS.” At this event, ONE GW promoted FACE AIDS, an official ONE partner organization run by students dedicated to fighting the spread of AIDS in Africa. Private donors match the money raised from sale of lovely hand-beaded pins for $5 each, and the money goes to Partners in Health (PIH), a nonprofit providing AIDS treatment and comprehensive healthcare to patients in Rwanda. Coming full circle, FACE AIDS employs patients of PIH in Rwanda to make the pins, providing them with an income they wouldn’t otherwise be able to get.

On Wednesday, the coalition sponsored a free HIV testing event, available to everyone on campus, that turned out quite a few people and helped remove the stigma of testing.

One of the major events of the week, the Coffeehouse, was held on Wednesday night. This event, primarly sponsored by ONE GW’s partner GW Students for Fair Trade, brought the topics of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and fair trade together through live music, free fair trade coffee and free food. The event captured attention and convinced people to sit down and listen to speakers on all of the aforementioned issues. ONE GW had a table at the Coffeehouse, placed strategically in front of the entrance, where ONE information, bands, and the FACE AIDS pins were available to the general public. During this event, ONE GW was able to band over 40 people, and educate them on what ONE GW does and how it relates to HIV/AIDS.

On Thursday, ONE GW participated in an AIDS Prevention Workshop, again selling FACE AIDS pins. As a result of ONE GW’s tabling efforts, over 30 pins were sold, and a good amount of money shall be donated to the FACE AIDS Campaign. And of course they get that awesome 20,000 points and prize pack for winning the Super Challenge, plus 2,500 extra points for doing a partner project with FACE AIDS.

Way to go, ONE GW!

-Emily Stivers