This theme will be pictorially displayed by the Federation’s Grades 5 and 6 students who designed several calendars which will be on sale for $11 by 14^th December.

Katharine Powell, a member of the United States Peace Corps who volunteers with the National Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS informed the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service that the calendar-making activity was spearheaded by two United States Peace Corp volunteers, Millicent Nash and Kimson Bryant who are working with the Ministry of Education.

Ms. Nash and Mr. Bryant revealed that the backdrop to the art competition was a National AIDS Secretariat workshop that was held for primary school counsellors. The aim of the training session was to establish a partnership with counsellors to ensure that a unified and effective HIV/AIDS prevention message was presented to Grades 5 and 6 students.  This included sharing information and consulting with the staff health educators in order to create effective methods of presenting the prevention message to the mentioned age group.  An art competition was thought to fill these requirements.

Nash and Bryant spearheaded the contest and so met with Grades 5 and 6 students of 18 primary schools in St. Kitts and encouraged them to take part.  Ms. Powell said that several expressive bits of artwork were created and the winning piece will be placed on the cover of the calendar, while the runners up will be featured on specific pages of the calendar.  The children were given an incentive to participate.  The winner will receive US$75.00, 1st place US$50.00, and 2nd place US$25.00. The general public can pre-order calendars by calling 467-1233, and they will also be available for sale at the National Testing Day, 14^th December, in Independence Square.

“The calendar brings awareness to the epidemic through an artistic lens while helping to educate children with the correct information regarding this virus,” Ms. Powell emphasized.  “This is important because they will be the driving force in controlling and hopefully eradicating this scourge.  They hold the hope for this community.”

Other activities of the National AIDS Campaign include its Launch on Tuesday, 1^st November; Guest Spots on local radio programmes; the Ride the Bus event from 8-11 November and 19-23 December; and HIV/AIDs will be the theme of the Island Expressions scheduled for 1^st December, World AIDS Day.  There will also be a Talk Show on ZIZ TV on 5^th December, the World AIDS March on 2^nd December; and a Whistle Stop on 12^th December.  A special attraction of the National Testing Day on 14^th December is the chance to win an I-Pad2.