Haiti Exchange

As part of this city-to-city exchange, 10 Haitian AIDS experts - people living with HIV/AIDS, directors of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), two doctors, a nurse, a psychiatric counsellor, a journalist, and 3 members of a youth theatre troupe - travelled to Vancouver in November 2008. During an intensive 5-day period, the Haitians took part in 27 small-group meetings, using volunteer interpreters, with 20 Vancouver organisations, involving about 50 people from the city's AIDS community as well as public health officials, researchers, and front-line workers in hospitals, clinics, drug centres, and anti-poverty programmes. The Haitian team gave a press conference at the Canadian embassy, briefed senior Canadian officials on the Haitian AIDS situation, were welcomed to Vancouver by the Mayor at City Hall, were guests of honour at an AIDS concert in the cathedral, and laid a wreath at the Vancouver AIDS Memorial. Information about the Haiti Exchange was reported on television and radio, in printed newspapers, and through blogs and other online media. The project culminated in a dialogue with over 50 people at Simon Fraser University on World AIDS Day, December 1.

This process was meant to test out a paradigm shift away from the notion of a "powerful, technically and intellectually superior North rescuing helpless, resource-poor South". Specifically, the Haitian team came to Canada to share its expertise and experience on a basis of equality (and 68% of Vancouver participants said the project gave them valuable new insights). For instance, one means of public education and engagement was the Haitian youth theatre troupe's performances at the foreign ministry in Ottawa, at a Vancouver secondary school, and at the public dialogue. A Vancouver-based youth theatre group is now exploring the Haitians' use of music in interactive theatre. Similarly, based on what was learned in the exchange, the British Colombia (BC) Centre for Disease Control and the Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care are now studying Haiti's expanded role for nurses in AIDS. And Haitian nurses are examining BC's model for partner counselling.

HIV/AIDS.

"The commonalities lens developed by Panos Canada looks first for what we share, an approach which reduces alienation and builds solidarity. Post-project, 88% of Vancouver participants rated the utility of the commonalities lens at 7 or more out of 10."

"It is in cities where AIDS impacts are most intense, and the most effective responses are forged. The highly-positive community reaction to this exchange underlines the exciting potential of city-to-city projects."

For more information, contact:
Panos Canada
221-119 W. Pender St.
Vancouver BC
V6B 1S5
Canada
Tel: +1 604 568 3038
info@panoscanada.org