J'ouvert

I attended my first J'ouvert celebration on Monday. J'ouvert is celebrated on many islands within the Eastern Caribbean and other cities around the world. J'ouvert is a celebration that involves calypso and soca bands and their followers dancing through the streets. The celebration starts well before dawn and peaks a few hours after sunrise. Some the origins of Carnival coincide with the emancipation of slavery. Emancipation provided Africans with the opportunity, to not only participate in Carnival, but to embrace it as an expression of their new found freedom.Others say, slaves were banned from masquerade balls of the french and the slaves would stage their own mini-carnivals in their backyards — using their own rituals and folklore, but also imitating and sometimes mocking their masters’ behaviors. Also, people would cover their bodies oil and paint to avoid being recognized. I woke up around 4am to go to town with another volunteer. We got a great seat at a restaurant and watched the parade from above. It was great to see young and older people having a great time. It was a great experience and Im glad I went. I experienced Carnival :) 

It is amazing how much people can get done if they do not worry about who gets the credit." --Sandra Swinney

I was given the opportunity to help build a demolish and rebuild a house for a citizen of the community. This man is 80+ years old and he worked for the government for 55 years and the Department of Youth Department decided to make a difference in his life. The man is called Country in the neighborhood and he has such a friendly and greatful spirit. I feel very blessed to be a part of rebuilding someone's home and providing them with joy and hope. All of the material used was donated and often times throughout the day he would say "Who's stuff is that?". We would say "Its for you" and he would say "Wow, really for me?"  I imagine that seeing you home demolished would be devastating to me, but seeing all of the people who came out to rebuild would be a breathtaking experience.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead

HIV/AIDS "Small aids to individuals, large aid to masses " -Maria Mitchell

Today is World AIDS DAY!! I am volunteering with the National AIDS Secretariat which is a great organization. It also apart of  the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Unit. Every year there is a HIV/AIDS march that brings about solidarity and awareness to the community. It was a great day and people from different schools and professional organizations came out to show support. I was responsible for recruiting volunteers which was my first real responsibility as a volunteer. I also passed out different forms of contraceptives and educational packets to people in the community. It was interesting to see how much of a stigma is associated with sexual activity and I learned to be very discreet in handing out information. I found this made people more comfortable with accepting information or forms of contraception. Now, I am participating with the Ride the Bus Campaign and the People's Show,the latter will air live. The Ride the Bus Campaign is great way to inform people, I along with a health educator jump on a bus and talk about HIV and create a discussion about sexual health and awareness. I will have some pictures from the Campaign and the Talk Show  :)