Concerned students are adding the University to a list of over 200 campuses across the country participating in the student founded FACE AIDS organization.
University senior Danielle Marchick is creating campus awareness about the non-profit organization by working to raise $1 million for HIV/AIDS patients in Africa while also educating students on the dangers of the epidemic in the U.S.
FACE AIDS is showing a documentary film about AIDS “A Closer Walk” on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in 166 Lawrence, in addition to selling $5 pins made by HIV positive support group patients in Zambia.
“Everybody has the right to live and unfortunately in Africa not everybody can afford treatment,” Marchick said, adding that the profit from the pins is used to help pay for treatment for patients in Rwanda. The patients making the pins are paid four to five times more than the country’s average salary, Marchick said.
More than 50,000 pins have been distributed from FACE AIDS, each accompanied with the name of the patient who made it, which can be used to look up his or her story online.
There are a lot of stories.
Sub-Sahara Africa “is home to more than 60 percent of all people living with HIV and 77 percent of all women living with HIV,” even though this region only represents about 10 percent of the world’s population, according to FACE AIDS’ Web site.
These statistics are more than a warning sign for those living in this region, but a daily reminder of HIV/AIDS’ lurking presence.
Marchick learned about FACE AIDS from a high school friend who founded the organization after visiting Africa and seeing firsthand the repercussions of the lack of stability and education about the disease.
Around two-thirds of high school and college-aged women in sub-Sahara Africa don’t know how HIV is transmitted, according to the organization’s Web site.
In addition to fundraising, FACE AIDS educates students about the disease’s presence in the U.S.
Kathleen Kennedy, a University senior, says she thinks that one of the most important aspects FACE AIDS is encouraging open conversations about HIV/AIDS.
“I think that awareness is extremely important,” she said.
Today, more than 40 million people are living with HIV worldwide, although many are in resource-poor regions of the world and only 17 percent of those infected in these areas have access to life saving treatment, according to FACE AIDS flyers.
“The reality is that some of these patients could be treated for $100 to $200 a year,” Marchick said, adding that the lack of treatment is contributing to “a whole new generation of orphans.”
FACE AIDS works directly with Partners in Health, a non-profit organization, which utilizes a “community-based approach” in treating AIDS “by employing community members as paid health care supervisors,” according to the organization.
Lorraine Dowty, a University senior, said she thinks students should use their power to take charge over the issue of AIDS in order to make a change.
“I think it’s an important and worthwhile organization because it brings to the surface some issues we are not confronted with here in Oregon,” Dowty said.
FACE AIDS also accepts contributions made by individuals and companies in addition to working with partner companies who match FACE AIDS’ earnings.
Marchick said she believes the University can be a substantial contributor in the program and she’s hoping to collaborate with students, the Greek Life Office and the Black Student Union in fundraising and organizing events.
“I’ve never really started an organization before, but I know what we’re doing is for a good cause, and I know $5 is affordable,” Marchick said, who hopes to recruit 700 students by the end of the year and build a strong enough organization to continue after she graduates.
“Hopefully it’s a big enough issue everybody can get involved in it,” she said.
If you would like to get involved e-mail Marchick at [email protected], or for more information on the FACE AIDS organization go to www.faceaids.org. Contact the people, culture and faith reporter at [email protected]