TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
Georgina Yidanpoa Caswell - My Blog
Georgina Yidanpoa Caswell - My Blog
Inspired and uplifted!
About this event: XVII International AIDS Conference

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

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

Tags:
You must be logged in to add tags.


Comments

aint-no-abacus sophie harrison
August 4, 2008 | 10:32 AM
Pics
Hey Georgina, we love your picture of the march, is it ok if we link to it off our vinspired blog? we were looking for a good picture for ages yesterday, which was a bit soul destroying as we were so jealous that we weren´t there! Hope you had a wicked first day at the craaaazily huge banamex, and didn´t spend as much money as we did in the global village (that place has a dangerous amount of beautiful stuff!). Hope we can get together on Wednesday
Speak soon
Ruth and Sophie x
georginacaswell Georgina Yidanpoa Caswell
August 9, 2008 | 5:25 PM
of course!
Hi Ruth and Sophie!
Only just saw this...sitting in my living room in Northampton with a cup of tea =)
Of course, you're more than welcome to use it. Will send you a few more pics soon!
May I have both of your email addresses? Mine is gycaswell@hotmail.com
G.
Georgina Yidanpoa Caswell's Profile


Latest Posts
Inspired and uplifted!

Monthly Archive
August 2008

Change Language


Filter By Type
Events


views
Important Disclaimer