Day #9/31: Red

DAY #9: RED

We were told during training that sometimes there would be things we would do as volunteers that we wouldn’t think much of, but that the Ukrainians would think the world of. This was one of those projects. Do NOT misunderstand me, I think our community needed an HIV/AIDS resource center. We worked in conjunction with the local hospital and with the PEPFAR office in Kiev to get the resource materials. We promoted its existence through our presentations to students and teachers and also through the hospital. And while I look at this photo and think that it doesn’t look like much of a resource center to me, this has been characterized as the “single most important contribution” I have made to this community since I have been here! I suppose that as long as we are in agreement that something needed to be done, and that something was done, that is what counts. HIV/AIDS is a terrible problem in Ukraine and for that reason, whenever we speak in public (on any topic), Lenara and I wear our red ribbon to remind our audience and ourselves that there is still a need and that any resource center is better than no resource center.