By Katelyn Fry

World AIDS Day is this Thursday, December 1. As with any disease, AIDS awareness is vital - not just for you, but for your nieces and nephews, too. Older nieces and nephews, pre-teen and up, may have heard of AIDS but may not fully understand it. That’s where, assuming their parents agree, you come in.

Here are six ways you can channel your inner BenevolAunt and join the battle against it with – or without – your nieces and nephews.


1. Get educated together.

Websites like KidsHealth.com  and ChildrenNow.com  provide everything you need to know about HIV/AIDS, as well as helpful tips on how to approach the subject with children. For example, KidsHealth breaks down the science of the virus in simple terms that young adults can fully understand, while ChildrenNow reassures adults of the importance of informing kids about HIV/AIDS and offers a step-by-step guide on how to do so and what to expect.


2. Bring Awareness to their School

My high school had a club called AIDS Peer Educators. Older students were trained in everything there is to know about HIV/AIDS. Then, once a week for half of the year, the students were bussed to the middle school to teach the younger students about the disease. Being taught by students whom we all looked up to, instead of teachers, made a world of difference. We were all more eager to pay attention, were more comfortable asking questions, and were way less likely to forget what we had learned.

Eventually, my friends and I became "Peer Educators" when we got to high school. Not only was it a meaningful experience to have been on both sides, it was truly rewarding to see the kids’ genuine interest in learning about HIV/AIDS.

If an organization like this doesn’t already exist at your nieces’ and nephews’ middle or high school, why not start one? If they are willing, have them propose the idea to their health teacher and see if they can be the start of something that will be sure to have a lasting and meaningful impact.


3.  Fundraising

The highest rates of infection are outside of the U.S., and so we don’t always have the opportunity to get directly involved with the people or regions that are most affected by the virus. As a result, fundraising is one of the most effective ways to have an influence despite geographical distance.

Two of the leading HIV/AIDS relief organizations that operate outside the country are Avert, an organization with the primary focus of spreading awareness throughout the world and stresses the importance of being educated on the subject. (RED) is a fund program that encourages businesses to donate to the fight against AIDS . And one of the very successful and select few U.S. based facilities is The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics AIDS Foundation, located in Washington D.C., which strives to study, treat, prevent and eradicate HIV/AIDS infection in children.


4.  Volunteering

If there are any AIDS treatment facilities near you, offer take your nieces and nephews there to brighten up someone’s day - whether you help the staff go about their routine or you simply give a patient some company. A lot of AIDS infected people don’t only suffer from the disease but from the stigma attached to it. The simplest act of compassion will make more of a difference than you realize. TheBody.com is a great source to check, offering lists of AIDS-related centers in almost all 50 states.


5. Add, Create, Visit

In 1987, a group of activists created a 48,000 panel quilt, each panel being 3 x 6 feet, and representing a loved one who had been lost to AIDS. The quilt has gained enormous fame over the years, now being recognized as a “unique American treasure,” according to AidsQuilt.org.

AIDS has been a fatal epidemic for over 30 years. Maybe you lost a loved one from AIDS, or you know who someone who did. If so, get ready to test your sewing skills. The organization behind the quilt, The NAMES Project Foundation, encourages all who were affected by AIDS to create and submit their own panel to be added to this monumental quilt, allowing your loved one to become a permanent part of history. You can find full instructions on how to submit your panel here.

Whether you or someone you know was personally affected by the virus or not, you can still experience this beautiful memorial and have your nieces and nephews witness something that is literally and figuratively, much bigger than either of you. The NAMES Project Foundation hosts over 1,000 showings of the original quilt across the country in multiple venues every year. Click here to see if there is one coming up near you.


6.  Keep Spreading Awareness

Just because World AIDS Day is one day doesn’t mean we have to stop there. You and your nieces and nephews can keep coming up with creative ways to raise money throughout the year. You can keep finding new ways to volunteer, begin planning your own events and getting more and more people involved. AIDS is an epidemic that has affected the lives of millions, but thanks to the global efforts both big and small of people like you, and compassionate kids, that number is getting smaller and smaller every year.


Photo: dolgachov
Published: November 30, 2016