by Stephanie Rea

30 November 2001

New York, USA: Two national United Nations Volunteers, Brigitte Syamalevwe and Ainsley Reid, emphasized the importance of volunteers in the fight against HIV/AIDS, setting the tone for the World AIDS Day observance, held Friday, 30 November at UN Headquarters.

The programme, set in a town-hall meeting style, showcased the theme "I Care...Do You?" The event highlighted the International Year of the Volunteer 2001 (IYV) and the role that volunteers play in the fight against AIDS.

Brigitte Syamalevwe is a national UN Volunteer, national chairperson of the Network of People living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia, mother to 11 children, and has been living with HIV/AIDS for the past 10 years. Through her experience as a peer counselor, Ms. Syamalevwe has worked with support groups, and helped formulate national and international strategic plans, and policy on HIV/AIDS.

"I had to volunteer. You make time when you reach a moment of truth," she said. "I had to be open and my openness infected the community. I dared to care."

In working with many community-based organizations and NGOs, Ms. Syamalevwe noted the importance of volunteers and emphasizes the need to recognize their skills.

A Jamaican national UN Volunteer, Ainsely Reid, spoke of how important volunteering is to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Mr. Ried, who learned of his infection in 1992, did not want to be involved in the issue until he met others who suffered from the disease.

"I realized that my voice and my experience is very important," he said. "The involvement of volunteers ensures that the spread of AIDS is reduced and people can have a good quality of life."

Mr. Reid is the CEO and co-founder of the Jamaican Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (JN+). The network allows community members and people living with AIDS to become involved in the donation of medical supplies, awareness and assistance programmes.

The International Year of the Volunteer was referred to often, as participants ranging from Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha, an Anglican priest living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda, to a schoolgirl from the Bronx, New York, all spoke of the power of volunteers within their own communities and in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

"This is a hymn to the human spirit," said Edmundo Doryan, special representative to the United Nations from the World Bank Group, after listening to speakers talk of their roles as volunteers.

The 30 November event was co-sponsored by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) International Labour Organisation (ILO) World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and United Nations Volunteers (UNV).

Featured participants included Nane Annan, Danny Glover, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998 and Denise Quinones-August, Miss Universe 2001. All spoke of how their volunteer efforts with HIV/AIDS stemmed from personal experiences.

World AIDS Day was established on 1 December 1988 by the World Health Organization. Since its establishment in 1996, UNAIDS has expanded the single day's observance into a year-long World AIDS Campaign, with World AIDS Day as a focal point.