¨ä¥L¦³Ãö¥@¬É·R´þ¯f·|ijªººô­¶¡G «C¤Ö¦~³ø§i | ¼qµóºq»R¼@ªíºt

²Ä¤Q¤»©¡¥@¬É·R´þ¯f·|ij³ø§i ¡]¥u¦³­^¤åª©¡^

ACAS stepped up its leadership role at the XVI International AIDS Conference (IAC) to raise awareness that Asians are also infected as well as affected by HIV/AIDS To prepare for this global scale event, ACAS mobilized a great deal of time and resources.

The AIDS 2006 Global Village was open to conference delegates, community organizations from around the world, local/national groups and the general public. ACAS' exhibition booth on the 7,000 sq metre Global Village showcased the HIV/AIDS prevention/education work funded by the City of Toronto. Sharing booth space with the Asian Society for the Intervention of Aids (ASIA), an ASO located in Vancouver and which provide services to Asian populations in BC, ACAS volunteer and staff were on hand to answer queries about ACAS and its HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and support services to the East and Southeast Asian communities.

Along with booklets highlighting all Asianrelated activities and programs, freebies such as bookmarks, purses, condoms with ACAS inserts, and buttons were handed out at the exhibition booth. The handy postcards stating ACAS' mission and bearing its new logo proved to be the most popular souvenir.

ACAS volunteers who had undergone the Volunteer Interpreters Training put their interpreter skills to use at the ACAS exhibition booth and the Networking Zone not only by assisting staff to converse with international delegates and the media from different parts of Asia but also to assist the Toronto Local Host in answering delegates' questions at the Global Village's help desk as needed.

One of the most popular Networking Zones throughout the Global Village was the Southeast & East (SE&E) Asian Networking Zone which ACAS was able to organize as requested by the Local Host. Through various programs and activities held at the SE&E Asian Networking Zone, ACAS introduced both international delegates and local people to HIV/AIDS prevention education initiatives and related HIV/AIDS issues experienced by Asian-Canadian populations in Toronto as well as highlight issues of HIV/AIDS in the Asian region.

Much like the world-famous "Temple Street" night market in Hong Kong which provided the inspiration for the backdrop -- from the design, colour, furnishings down to the ambience -- the SE&E Asian Networking Zone exuded a joyful and welcoming feeling for curious onlookers and passersby who were drawn to the networking zone by an eclectic mix of performances, workshops, presentations and Q&A panels.

Speakers not only from Toronto and Vancouver but also those belonging to ACAS' international Asian partners in Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam such as M+ International, Thai National AIDS Foundation, Chi-Heng Foundation, and RAKS Thai Foundation of Thailand participated in the programs and activities in the Networking Zone. Focusing on a population theme daily--women, MSM, Treatment Access for PHAs, and youth--the dynamic range of topics showcased included sexual health, empowerment models, PHA stories, treatment access inequities, affected orphans, and various comparisons on regional realities both locally and abroad.

The SE&E Asian Networking Zone-- a 600 sq foot space within four 8ft high walls with 3 separate entrances--was strategically located and highly visible from the aisles within the Global Village. It proved to be a relaxing venue for many international delegates and local crowds to meet, sit down, discuss, network, eat, laugh, caucus, dialogue, debate, and for some, rest or even take a nap. Kudos to the presenters who rose above the acoustic challenges posed by the open space amidst the cacophony of concurrent activities happening within the Global Village. With the number of participants ranging from 15-25, the small scale but onetheless exciting programs and activities within an informal setting made the sessions less intimidating and more interactive. Questions about MSM, safer sex, women and HIV prevention raised by the participants were capably answered by the presenters.

Two splendid cabaret performances drew huge crowds and was wellreceived by visitors at the Global Village. Volunteers from ACAS, the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention, and Little Pear Garden Collective, presented stories of people living with HIV/AIDS through dance, music, spoken word, reading and other performance art. 'My Colour Cabaret' featured sexually diverse Asian youth from Toronto while Pan Asian Canadian Artists Against Aids performed excerpts from their 'Temple Street Cabaret'. The performances celebrated and recognized the powerful voices from the marginalized communities.

When it came time to deliver, a total of 35 volunteers doing 83 shifts (or approximately 300 volunteer hours) for the ACAS exhibition booth as well as 28 volunteers (as speakers, performers, or presenters) for programs and activities at the Networking Zone, the dedicated and hard-working staff and volunteers of ACAS, led by its Executive Director, delivered at the XVI International AIDS Conference.

More pictures can be seen in IAC Photo Gallery.

ªð¦^ ACAS ¨Æ¥óï