MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER - WORLD AIDS DAY 2009 IN SHEERNESS

Diversity House joined up with some sexual health specialist from NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent to raise awareness of AIDS and HIV as part of the WORLD AIDS DAY 2009 event. Here are some of the pictures taken on the day.

SATURDAY, 28 NOVEMBER - WORLD AIDS DAY 2009 IN SITTINGBOURNE

Diversity House and HACO, two organisations out of three that make up the East Kent African Health Project held an assertive outreach on Saturday, 28 November 2009 in the Town Centre of Sittingbourne as part of the World AIDS Day event. Some volunteers from both organisations used the opportunity to reach out to people and engage them to talk about HIV and also distributed many bags with some relevant literature as well as red ribbons.

We thank the many people who took time to listen to us and wore Red ribbon - the red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.

The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. We would like to encourage people to help implement equal access and human rights for all people living with HIV. Again, World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

DIVERSITY HOUSE & EKAHP WORLD AIDS DAY EVENT 28 NOVEMBER 2009

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe the event, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics.

World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Bunn and Netter took their idea to Dr. Jonathan Mann, Director of the Global Programme on AIDS (now known as UNAIDS). Dr. Mann liked the concept, approved it, and agreed with the recommendation that the first observance of World AIDS Day should be 1 December, 1988.

There are over 80,000 people living with HIV in the UK and new infections continue to increase every year. Over a quarter of people living with HIV in the UK don’t know they are infected. People living with HIV still face discrimination, but treatment is improving and life expectancy is increasing.

World Aids Day is an opportunity to bring people together to talk about HIV. By attending the East Kent African Health Project event on 28 November 2009 in Sittingbourne, Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet you can help spread the word and break the silence on HIV.
We ask that you join us in this campaign by doing the followings:
1. Sponsor our event
2. Organize an event – healthy walks, cake sale, coffee morning, Art exhibition, village ball, etc.
3. Wear a Red ribbon - the red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.


The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. We would like to encourage people to help implement equal access and human rights for all people living with HIV. Again, World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

"Swale - A Celebration of Cultures"

Swale - a celebration of cultures was held on Saturday 31st October 2009 at the Swallows and the Sittingbourne Town Centre. The festival was a big success and attendance this year was far more than that of 2008.

As the project lead of Diversity House, I want to use this opportunity to say thank you very much to the event planning committee (representatives of Swale Borough Council, Kent Fire & Rescue Service, VSO, Kent County Council, Ibgraphics, VivStudio, Swale Arts Forum, Swale CVS) ,the event coordinator Sioux Peto, the Diversity House team of volunteers, the Media, CDSE, The Learning Revolution and a host of others.

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing with you further information regarding the event and also pictures from it too.

"Swale - A Celebration of Cultures"

Diversity House started the Swale - a celebration of cultures festival in the Borough of Swale, Kent in october 2007 as a way of promoting intercultural dialogues and bridging cultures. Since then the festival has grown from a one day event to a week event in 2008. The Chair of Diversity House received an award from the Kent County Council for contributing to life in Kent due to her efforts in initiating and organising the cultural festival.

Swale - A Celebration of Cultures, as a channel for promoting cultural understanding and acceptance in the locality is surely making positive impacts in Swale as it is bringing both communities and organisations together. To date, several organisations such as the Kent County Council's Adult Social Services, Libraries and Archives, Swale Borough Council, Swale CVS, KCC Education, Kent Fire and Rescue Services, Kent Police, Swale Mediation, Ibgraphics, SoundArt, Kent Polish Association, Sevenveils, New Covenant Church Kemsley, some local artists, and a host of others are working with Diversity House to plan and organise the celebration of cultures 2009.

We find the festival an effective method of promoting community cohesion and it has been useful in bringing communities together especially in Swale which hitherto had been a predominantly a mainstream community. Swale - a celebration of cultures, now in its third year is showcasing the diverse cultures now in the locality, creating awareness, breaking myths and challenging attitudes which are discriminatory.

We are therefore happy to present to you the program for 2009 celebration of cultures taking place in Sittingbourne on 31 October 2009.

Welcome to our blog

Hello. My name is Christine Locke. I warmly welcome you to the Diversity House blog.

From now on, several of our volunteers will keep you up to date with what we are up to, be it in our Special Interest Group at www.diversityhousessig.org.uk or in the East Kent African Health Project (EKAHP) at www.diversityhouse.org.uk/ekahp.

Bookmark this page and register to become a follower of this blog. With your help and cooperation, Diversity House will continue to contribute towards equal opportunities for all in health, education, and social life.