Through different non-government organizations like ACHIEVE, Inc. and Pinoy Plus Association I get involved in HIV prevention: as a participant in capacity building seminars and workshops; as an advocate for HIV prevention, and; as a resource speaker in various trainings and HIV-related information dissemination.

          I participated in trainings on gender, sexuality, reproductive health, vulnerability of migrant workers, HIV and AIDS. With the things I learned in these trainings, I can now get involved in advocacy with Government agencies to raise awareness on the issues faced by migrant workers that make them vulnerable to HIV infection. I have also been invited as a resource person to share my experiences and my thoughts on the above-mentioned issues. These are just some of my involvements at the local level.

          Through ACHIEVE, I have also been given the opportunity to be involved in a regional research that is being undertaken by CARAM-Asia. We are currently studying the medical testing requirements that migrant workers have to undergo. We hope to be able to recommend ways of improving these required testing procedures to make them more beneficial for migrant workers.

          My involvement in these activities has a lot of positive results. First of all, I have gained a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the issues of HIV and AIDS, migration, gender and sexuality. This has helped me improve my outlook on life because I am now more confident. Being involved also gave me more courage to face other people, those like me who are living with HIV and those who do not have HIV. Being able to speak in public to share my opinions and experiences has a positive impact on myself and I hope that I am also helping others this way.

Contributed by:

JC
A health advocate of Pinoy Plus Association and ACHIEVE, Inc.