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All 13 students pose with
the the Big Red Ribbon outside the House of Commons
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After many days of preparations it was finally the morning of
World AIDS Day and the HIV360° team met up with the students and their teachers
in Westminster. As it was a beautiful morning and we had some time before we
went to meet the MPs, we decided to have a photo shoot in the park in front of
the Houses of Parliament.
Soon it was time to
rush to the first event. After very thorough security checks we were able to
finally get our first glimpse of the parliamentary building from the inside.
During the first event, the young people got a chance to ask questions from
Hilary Benn, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government,
and Jim Murphy, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. The discussion topics
varied from future careers to what politicians could do more of to help stop
the spread of HIV and AIDS. As it was still quite early in the morning, the
discussion was more light-hearted, as you can see from our cheery faces.
All the students seemed to have enjoyed the
talk and it helped to liven the mood for the whole day. When Jim Murphy and
Hilary Benn finished more and more MPs started arriving. All of them were very
interested to talk with the students, sign petitions for them, hear about
their World AIDS Day campaigns and take photos with them.
Anna, year 10, Acton
High, Ealing commented: “It was very interesting talking to the MPs and finding
out their views on HIV360°. I
hope we persuaded them to take more action”
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The discussion with Hilary
Benn and Jim Murphy
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After meeting all the MPs, we had a free time so we decided to
have lunch at the cafe in the House of Commons. After lunch it was time to join
everyone for the panel discussion. After a short confusion everyone was able to
find a seat or at least a standing place, and the discussion could start. This year’s
discussion was titled “The beginning of the End of AIDS”. Pamela Nash (MP),
chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS, chaired the
panel. The four speakers who took part were: Alan Duncan, Minister of State for
International Development; Marg Mayne, Chief Executive for VSO (Voluntary
Service Overseas); Nonkhosi Khumalo, Chairperson for Treatment Action Campaign
South Africa; and Alvaro Bermejo, Executive Director of the International
HIV/AIDS Alliance.
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Jim Murphy with some of the
students
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All the four speeches were slightly different but they all agreed
that a lot more has to be done, especially in regard to funding various HIV and
AIDS projects across the world. With current cutbacks in funding by the Global
Fund, there is serious doubt in the viability of some of the HIV and AIDS
projects already running and there is also doubt whether without the extra
funding there will be any new projects set-up before 2014. At the end of the
speeches there was a question and answer session. And this is where all the
students realised that they could have once in a
lifetime chance to ask a question regarding AIDS and HIV from the four
panel members. Issac from Christ’s College, Finchley, was lucky enough to be chosen. You can hear his question
and all the four answers here: http://www.v3.rafi.ki/resource/world-aids-day-2011-successes
After very interesting speeches and a Q&A session, the day came to a close.
Matthew Cook, from the
International Community School, London commented: “We’re an international
school and global issues play a large role in the education of our students,
which made Rafi.ki’s HIV360 action project so relevant. The fight against
HIV and AIDs is one of the biggest global health issues there is. We were
particularly honoured to be invited to the House of Commons to voice our
opinions and show support for the project, as it emphasises the role education
plays in preventing the spread of this epidemic.”
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Ivan Lewis, Shadow Secretary
of State for International Development, and Pamela Nash (MP) with some of the
students from Acton High, London
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I think everyone who took part in the event will remember it for years
to come and hopefully this will encourage others, who maybe did not have time
this year, to take part next year and help to make the event even bigger. A BIG
THANK YOU to all the teachers and students from the International Community
School (Westminster, London), Upper Shirley High (Southampton, United Kingdom),
Acton High (Acton, London), Christ’s College (Finchley, London) and OF COURSE
everyone else who sent in their ‘Calls to Action’ but were unable to come to
the House of Commons. Everyone else who did something amazing for World AIDS
Day with their school, send us your photos or videos, so we can share the fun!
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