On Saturday April 28, students at the College will participate in the Student Science Court symposium entitled "HIV/AIDS in Africa: How should the USA respond?" One of the panelists at this symposium will be Beatrice Were, African AIDS activist and social worker.
Were became involved in AIDS activism when she was infected with HIV 8 years ago. She has spent the past 7 years working as an AIDS advocate.
Were established the Memory Project for Children in Uganda. This program works to enable parents with HIV to open up to their children about the disease. It helps HIV infected parents make practical plans for their children's future, and it also documents important family history.
"We use memory books to document family origins, values, history and beliefs. This helps children remember their parents in a positive light," Were said.
Were said she was inspired to start this program from her own personal experience as a mother. She said she was always afraid that her children would have sad memories of her being very sick when she died. She wanted to give them something to remember her and what she accomplished in her lifetime.
Were also organized the first African Positive Women's Empowerment training program. This program brings women with HIV together and trains women in the skills necessary to provide income.
"It helps raise self esteem and confidence among women with HIV or AIDS," Were said. The program also helps the community to respect women with HIV and AIDS.
Were is also the National Coordinator of the National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda.
According to Were, the goal of African Positive Women's Empowerment is to enable women with this disease to act as one strong voice, and to make women with HIV and AIDS more visible.
Another goal is to link women with HIV or AIDS to each other to form support systems. This program has been in place for six years. "It has reduced the fear and stigma of HIV and has proved that women with HIV can be useful."
Were is here at Dartmouth to participate in the Student Science Court, hoping to raise awareness of AIDS throughout the College. Were believes that most students do not understand how large the problem is.
After the symposium, Were will be returning to Uganda. However, she has accepted a position as the Executive Director of the International Community of Women living with AIDS, which is based in London. Although she will be moving to London, Were plans to stay involved with all of the projects she started in Uganda.
