Bill Gates and Bill Clinton at the conference
Diary of a delegate - 1
Taiwo Makanjuola is at the XVI International AIDS conference in Toronto as part of Christian Aid's delegation. Every day he'll be reporting back on the conference from a young person's perspective and finding out why this conference matters.
Day 1: Why are we here?
Why I am at Gatwick airport - on Thursday 10 August - anxious and feeling the pressure? Well the first reason is the state of heightened security at the UK's airports and secondly the enormity of my work schedule for the next six days at the conference.
My plane is delayed in London for over two hours and it takes a group effort from work colleagues at Christian Aid's HIV unit - thanks Becky W, Becky C, Rachel and Beanie– to ensure that I get to Canada safely.
Getting off the plane, I immediately sense the air of excitement around around Toronto.
With more than 24,000 delegates (scientists, people living with HIV/AIDS, activists, heads of state and many more) from all over the World, this is the largest and most diverse gathering of people engaged in the global response to HIV/AIDS.
The conference theme, Time to deliver, reflects on the epidemic (25 years after which AIDS was first recognised) and emphasises the need for urgent action to make the world’s hopes and plans in HIV prevention and treatment a reality.
For us there are a lot of opportunities to raise the profile of our (Christian Aid's) work. At the Conference we are involved in four presentations in collaboration with Christian Aid partners. We are also presenting Life Interrupted, a photography exhibition by Don McCullin. In addition there’s also the opportunity for us and Christian Aids partners to network, share and learn from people’s experiences.
What’s exciting for me is the record number of young people at the conference. With more than 1,000 youth delegates, this is twice as many that attended the last conference in Bangkok (2004).
Young people will have a powerful voice here at the conference and rightfully so!
It makes sense given that young people account for half of all new infections. It is important that youth are at the forefront influencing policy decisions.
I must mention now my excitement by participating in an MTV production, directing a film on masculinity and HIV, and my involvement in a youth documentary; How youth can make a different at the conference.
You might want to get my autograph now.
Stay tuned for daily updates during the conference and the progress of my filming with MTV.
Taiwo Makanjuola
Day 2 >>
Why I am at Gatwick airport - on Thursday 10 August - anxious and feeling the pressure? Well the first reason is the state of heightened security at the UK's airports and secondly the enormity of my work schedule for the next six days at the conference.
My plane is delayed in London for over two hours and it takes a group effort from work colleagues at Christian Aid's HIV unit - thanks Becky W, Becky C, Rachel and Beanie– to ensure that I get to Canada safely.
Getting off the plane, I immediately sense the air of excitement around around Toronto.
With more than 24,000 delegates (scientists, people living with HIV/AIDS, activists, heads of state and many more) from all over the World, this is the largest and most diverse gathering of people engaged in the global response to HIV/AIDS.
The conference theme, Time to deliver, reflects on the epidemic (25 years after which AIDS was first recognised) and emphasises the need for urgent action to make the world’s hopes and plans in HIV prevention and treatment a reality.
For us there are a lot of opportunities to raise the profile of our (Christian Aid's) work. At the Conference we are involved in four presentations in collaboration with Christian Aid partners. We are also presenting Life Interrupted, a photography exhibition by Don McCullin. In addition there’s also the opportunity for us and Christian Aids partners to network, share and learn from people’s experiences.
What’s exciting for me is the record number of young people at the conference. With more than 1,000 youth delegates, this is twice as many that attended the last conference in Bangkok (2004).
Young people will have a powerful voice here at the conference and rightfully so!
It makes sense given that young people account for half of all new infections. It is important that youth are at the forefront influencing policy decisions.
I must mention now my excitement by participating in an MTV production, directing a film on masculinity and HIV, and my involvement in a youth documentary; How youth can make a different at the conference.
You might want to get my autograph now.
Stay tuned for daily updates during the conference and the progress of my filming with MTV.
Taiwo Makanjuola
Day 2 >>
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