Acknowledgement and recognition: HIV is our problem!

[Laurence Gilliot]

Dear friends,

We all have something to share, we all have something to learn. The most valuable knowledge is not somewhere in books on shelves but it is in our heads. It is in the heads of millions of communities who respond, every day, to the issue of HIV.

We invite all of you to participate in this first global ‘knowledge asset’ building on Ning: the collection of our joint knowledge on the ten practices of AIDS Competence, based on our experiences.

We propose to work together first on the practice ‘Acknowledgement and recognition’. Click here to read a description of the practice.

A group of representatives of Asian countries and Mali has built a knowledge asset on ‘acknowledgement’ during the Knowledge Fair in Chiang Mai, Thailand (Feb 2009). We propose to take their work as an inspiration to start with. Click here to see the knowledge asset on Acknowledgement from the ‘Chiang Mai group’.

In the forum, we will take three steps towards a global knowledge asset on Acknowledgement:
1. We define a common vision of success in terms of acknowledgement and recognition (level 5).
2. We share our experience in addressing acknowledgement and recognition of HIV as an issue that concerns us, our community
3. We discuss and define the common principles emerging from our individual experiences

Therefore, as a first step, we now invite you to share with friends on the forum: what is success in terms of acknowledgement and recognition of HIV? What is you personal dream? What is the ‘dream’ situation for our community in our context? What will an AIDS Competent community have in place in terms of acknowledgement and recognition?

Timeline:
- 1-7 June: Developing a common dream
- 8-14 June: Sharing our experiences in the forum
- 15-28 June: Start identifying common principles
- 15th July: post revised Knowledge Asset

We are excited at the prospect of learning together and are looking forward to receiving your contribution on the forum.

Laurence and Geoff

*to participate in this discussion, just leave your comments on the forum discussion about acknowledgment.

[Ian Campbell]

'We together'
The experience of the last 25 years for me, is that there is a turning point in reflective, usually facilitated conversation. The turning point is from 'me and you' or 'us and them' to shared concerns and shared hopes , to recognition that the journey is shared whether that was desired initially or not, to practical and often compassion based shared response for future, family community and nation.

Many different ways of saying this in different cultures, with differing timelines-it can be 30 minutes into discussion as in Onamuga, PNG in 1995, or after several months as in Manila in 1992, or a week as in Botswana in 1999

Ian

[Laurence Gilliot]

I propose that you all contribute your thoughts in the forum: http://aidscompetence.ning.com/forum/topics/practice-1-acknowledgement

Thanks Rafique for this first contribution!

Laurence

[Dr. E. Mohamed Rafique]

Dear Geoff and Laurence,

I missed the Knowledge fair. However, I will try to make up with my vision or dream of what a great community acknowledging and recognizing HIV as a concern:
Apart from there being no stigma and discrimination, there would be as a consequence, no hesitation especially by People Living with HIV (PLHIV) to access all prevention and care services provided or present in the community.
Leaders in the Community if they are PLHIV would come out in the open and set an example of disclosure.
As there is no discrimination in the community based on sexual orientation, everyone in the community is open about their sexual orientation
Similarly everyone in the community is open about their drug using habits, sex work, and other causes of vulnerability to HIV if any
Hope these points are relevant and helpful,

Rafique