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Georgina Yidanpoa Caswell - My Blog
Georgina Yidanpoa Caswell - My Blog


Inspired and uplifted!
About this event: XVII International AIDS Conference

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I will never forget the Latin American spirit at the Mexico Youth Force pre-conference. From the moment I arrived at the pre-conference (and even before…at the airport, at Hotel Palace, in the restaurant), I felt welcomed by other Latin American youth. Communication for me was not a problem even though I didn’t speak Spanish and some of the Latin American youth didn’t speak English – somehow we managed and we managed it well.

The Latin American spirit was most apparent to me in the skills-building sessions. I hesitate if asked to participate in activities or discussions unless I’m completely sure what I’m getting myself into. This was certainly not the case at the pre-conference where there were endless volunteers to join in group work and to share personal experiences and express well thought-out perspectives on complex issues such as gender, sexuality and identity.

Similarly at the ‘1st International March Against Stigma, Discrimination and Homophobia’, the Latin American youth enthusiastically led us in very loud chants, such as ‘Alerta, Alerta, Alerta, que camina la juventud unida por America Latina’ (which translates to something like ‘Listen up, Listen up, Listen up, we are representing the united youth of Latin America’. Another important chant was ‘No hay libertad politica si no hay libertad sexual’ (‘There’s not political liberty if there’s not sexual liberty’).

I’ve certainly been fired up by the Latin American activists that I’ve met and I hope we can all approach the conference with the vibrant Latin American spirit that I have found so inspiring and uplifting!

August 3, 2008 | 8:47 PM Comments  2 comments

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