Chittick is the founder and executive director of TeenAIDS-PeerCorps, a nonprofit organization that uses grassroots techniques to educate youth around the world about the dangers of AIDS. Chittick described his strategy at three separate presentations at the Rockefeller Center, Phi Delta Alpha fraternity and Delta Delta Delta sorority Tuesday night.
"We do what's called an AIDS attack," Chittick said during his presentation at Phi Delt, explaining that he arrives in a country, seeks out teenagers and strikes up a conversation.
Chittick, who joked in an interview with The Dartmouth that his trademark Hawaiian shirt often helps break the ice, said he initiates conversation with a standard opening line: "We have some information that will save your best friend's life."
The opener preempts a defensive reaction, Chittick said, adding that this is one of a number of "psychological tricks" he uses to elicit the attention of teenagers.
"Everybody has a best friend that they know is at risk in whatever goes on Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights," Chittick said in his presentation.
Once he frames the information as a tool to save a loved one, he said, teens are often more likely to listen. His goal is to train peer leaders to spread the message about HIV prevention to their communities.
"It's amazing how many young people are looking to believe in something," he said. "They're looking to feel like they can make a difference."
Chittick's ten-minute lesson plan, which fits on the back of his business card, emphasizes the dangers of unprotected sex.
Chittick encourages monogamy for young people who are sexually active in order to reduce the chance of exposure to HIV, he said. He also stresses condom use.
"A condom could help save your life," Chittick said in the interview. "Every maturing teenager has a right to this information ... My concern is talking to teenagers before they start doing dangerous behaviors so that they know the information."
His endorsement of condoms has landed Chittick in trouble in the United States and abroad.
"I've been arrested, and I've been locked up, and my volunteers have been harassed," Chittick told his audience at Phi Delt.
Chittick's trip this November defies the U.S. State Department's recommendations against travelling in dangerous regions of central Africa.
"We're going to challenging areas," Chittick said. "We'll be careful where we go, but that's exactly why we have to go there. If there's violence and there's civil strife, the kids are not in school and they're not getting educated ... People don't know it because they don't see it."
Kircher said he was slightly nervous about traveling into treacherous areas. His parents, who share his concerns, have both spoken to Chittick, who acknowledges the potential dangers of the trip.
Chittick met Kircher through TeenAIDS-PeerCorps board member George Faux '84. Faux, president of the Phi Delt Alumni Corporation, sent an e-mail to fraternity members about an opportunity to travel and work with Chittick. Kircher, who was looking for something "eclectic" to do on his leave term, applied to be Chittick's assistant, Kircher said.
Kircher will be an asset in connecting with teens, Chittick said.
Students said they enjoyed Chittick's casual and straightforward manner, balanced with his comedic approach to the serious subject.
"This is a great opportunity for Phi Delt to get involved in something important," Andrew Son '09, Phi Delt president, said. Phi Delt has been raising money for Kircher's trip.
Because Kircher made his plans to join Chittick only a few weeks ago, he was unable to receive funding from the College, Kircher said, but he sought financial assistance from Phi Delt and received $800 in donations from alumni within three days. A single donor bought his plane ticket, he added.
Phi Delt has also received donations for Kircher from other Greek organizations on campus. Kircher has almost met his $5,000 fundraising goal.
