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World AIDS Day Messages
Contributions: The ACAS Connection was produced by the Media and Arts Committee: Ernie Chan • Aries Cheung • Tony Chong • JK Gye • Duncan Lau • Jorge Lee • Alex Li • Grace Ng Listkowski • Rhoda Pangilinan • Eric Poon • Francis
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Women’s Night Out
Roque • Ryan Tran • Leo Wong • Lisa Wong • Ben Xie. We like to thank the staff and volunteers who contributed their time and hard work. We rely on volunteers’ contribution, and if you
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Volunteers Training
like to help out in future issues, please feel free to email us at publicity@acas.org
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Asina Bath House
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Volunteer Feature
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Staff Feature
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Q&A
© 2007 www.acas.org All rights reserved.
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33 Isabella St., #107 Toronto, ON M4Y 2P7 Tel 416-963-4300 Fax 416-963-4371 Email info@acas.org Website www.acas.org
Editor’s Message What you are holding in your hands is a piece of history - the debut issue of Connection, the new ACAS magazine. In this electronic age, ACAS actually developed an e-newsletter to keep our members aware of our latest news and activities. It is being sent monthly or bi-monthly, and it's more event-oriented. To distinguish this printed form of the newsletter from the e-newsletter, we decided to make it more like a magazine. We even came up with a name for it. We also decided to publish this magazine on a more regular basis, twice a year, in December and June. So this is the first issue, and it's a very exciting time for the Media and Arts Committee. I just want to take this opportunity to thank all volunteers who contributed behind the pages. I hope you, the readers, can feel the enthusiasm through the paper. And I hope you will take the time to tell us how you feel about this magazine, because it is your magazine. It's ACAS's magazine. Happy reading!
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World AIDS Day Messages Bosco (ACAS volunteer & service user): “It's been so long. I am just thankful that I am still alive. I want to remind the younger generation to be careful, and know how to protect yourself. HIV/AIDS is preventable! And to others who are going through what I am going through, just hang in there. Make sure you follow through with your medicine schedule, don't take too many drug-holidays. I'd seen people get worse because they were too lazy to keep up with the schedule. It's a long hard fight but you are not alone. Self discipline is important. Just keep hanging on since a cure may just be around the corner. I just want to thank a few people for their help along the way – Dr. Alan Li, George Leung, Len Lopez, Carmen Subibi and Patrick Truong. And I am always grateful for what Casey House has done for me. It made a world of difference.”
Carmen (ACAS Women Program Coordinator): “Statistics have show in the recent years an increase number among women. Women account for a growing proportion of positive HIV tests reports with known age and gender among adults in Canada. The proportion of females each year has risen, from 12.0% in the years between 1985 and 1997 to 24.9% of adult positive HIV test reports between 1999 and 2002. These statistics have only proven that women in our community are at increased risk of HIV infection because of social, economic and political factors such as immigration status, poverty, homelessness and gender imbalance. Women through centuries were portrayed as the weaker sex, have no voice, have been treated as second class citizen, like children and old people, women is part of the vulnerable population. Women have played a vital role in our society/community. Women should educate themselves and learn to protect themselves through access to services and information. Women should be involved in planning, research and development of programs and services but most is to raise our voice that we are not only here to be at the back scene but because women have important roles in our families, communities and the society at large. It’s time for women to take the lead!”
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Q: Why do you volunteer at ACAS? A: I wanted to give back to the community, meet new people and learn about HIV/AIDS
Q: How has volunteering at ACAS inspired your personal life? A: It motivated me to get more involved in advocacy by going back to school
Q: Has the volunteer experience helped you be more aware of HIV/AIDS?. A: Yes. The volunteer training, being involved with iRice and volunteering as board member helped me understand better the implications of HIV/AIDS within the Asian community. Q: What's the biggest gain from your volunteer experience? A: Meeting amazing, talented and hardworking people from all walks of life and learning new skills (leadership, team-building etc.) Q: What tips do you like to share with the new volunteers?
A: Because I found there are a lot of misunderstanding and stereotyping about people who have AIDS or HIV. I want people to have the correct information on HIV for them to avoid stereotyping.
A: Being a volunteer changed my career life from a business woman to a social service worker then to a therapist (future one).
A: Through over 20 sessions of training (both volunteer and professional), I have more awareness of HIV and AIDS.
A: Gained happiness by helping people prevent HIV. I made my first dream come true in ACAS. Right now, I have a new one and it is in progress.
A: Participate in as many training sessions as they can, even repeat some of them if you want. Ask help from staff and other volunteers, communicate more, join more activities, respect others. ACAS is a very wonderful organization that will make you have new dreams, and it is the perfect organization to help you achieve your own goals as well.
A: Try and volunteer with the many programs available so you can see where your strengths are and so you'll get to know ACAS better.
Constantine Cabarios started volunteering in 2003. He is currently a board member.
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Sarah Chen joined ACAS volunteer team since October 28, 2003, the year she first landed in Canada, and ACAS is the first organization she volunteered in. She was so inspired from the volunteer work that she went to Centennial College and study how to be a social service worker, and now she is pursuing her professional level in Wilfrid Laurier University.
Staff Feature Name: Patrick Truong Position: Support Program Coordinator Years with ACAS: Too long On the job: Tell You All About It Over Lunch? Birth Place: Vietnam Birthday: Oct. 10th, Year of the Horse Education: College Hobbies: Traveling, Shopping Favorite Food: Thai Favorite Color: Baby Blue Favorite Song: Too Many Favorite Movies: In The Mood For Love Favorite Past Time: The 80’s Your Idol: Myself Personal Goal: To Live Life To The Fullest Professional Goal: Entrepreneur Most Exciting Moment: Every Moment Of My Life Is Exciting Pet Peeve: Preferred Not To say What I'm reading: I Hate Reading
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by Lisa Wong Lisa is the volunteer Coordinator, and this was her first ACAS banquet Photo by Henry Roxas
The 3rd Annual ACAS Banquet was held at Bright Pearl Seafood Restaurant on October 19th, 2007, with a sold out crowd of 360 guests and community members. This year’s theme, Spotlight on Asian Women and HIV, aimed to raise awareness and needed funds for the Education/Prevention and Treatment/Support programs as well as to celebrate the contributions of Asian women in our communities. Hosted by Jazzmine Manalo and Reese Baguio, the evening got off to a wonderful start with the beautiful Juthaphorn Phooliamkham performing the Kinnari dance, a dramatic dance piece inspired by a Thai myth.
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As the first of 12-courses meal was served, the hall was already alive and buzzing with laughter and guests and members alike were toasting wine glasses. We were then treated to a spellbinding display of both strength and grace from Ote-a Tane, an all male group of Tahitian ori and Hawaiian hula dancers outfitted in vibrant green grass skirts. Special awards were presented that evening to three incredible community activists and leaders at ACAS with Josephine Wong receiving the Asian Canadian Women Leadership Award, Shannon Soropia, the Break-
through Community Activist Award and Amutha Samgam, the Asian Canadian PHA Leadership Award. Special guests Olivia Chow and Wayson Chow emceed the live auction and brought the house to their feet auctioning off a very special piece donated by Dr. Alan Li’s father. The last performance of the evening was Layla Hassam, who dazzled with her bellydancing, fabulous costume and bright smile.
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The “Naked� Truth by Alex Li
The Asian Bathhouse Event is a monthly outreach program set at Spa Excess to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention. Men go to the bath house for intimate encounters with other men, which makes a bathhouse a prime location for ACAS volunteers to give a helping hand.
Started over a year ago, Asian Bathhouse night is one of the popular MSM (men who have sex with men) outreach programs at ACAS. With the support of a large group of volunteers, the event has been so successful that it has attracted other AIDS services agencies in Canada to come and learn from ACAS. - The first Asian bathhouse event was held on August 17, 2006, in the middle of IAC 2006. There were close to 200 patrons. - There have been about 12 events since then, with an average of 160 patrons - The next event will be in January 2008 8
The volunteers set up the booth by the entrance and provide information packages for the patrons as they enter. Volunteers also conduct round the clock information sessions to attract patrons to attend. The topics include; HIV/AIDS and STI prevention, safer sex practices, and sensual massages. To make the patrons feel comfortable, volunteers are encouraged to wear similar attire (just the towel). Often the volunteers are paired up together during the event.
Aside from English, the volunteers are able to converse in Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. For more information on how you can help with the program, please contact Daniel Le at 416.963.4300 ext. 26 or gaap@acas.org.
“4 out of 5 for overall training.” - Kavit Ratchadasri “The presenter made it very clear what confidentiality and boundaries mean. Anti-Oppression course was very well facilitated. Interesting exercise. Trans 101 was very new to me. I’ve always been curious about the topic. Glad the presenter was able to discuss from her own experience. I have learned so much overall. Thanks!” - Alex Li
“Fun, insightful weekend” - Paul
“Good information on the importance of Confidentiality and boundaries. Good Anti-Oppression exercise to get everyone comfortably involved. Trans 101 has useful information to understand more about Trans.” - Eric Poon
“The ACAS’ New Volunteer Core Skills Training was definitely one of the most rewarding weekends I had for a long time. When I signed up for the training, I was expecting a brief overview of how I could volunteer and help. Instead, I laughed, learned, and shared in the many amazing workshops conducted by your well-qualified staff. The highlight of my training was the opportunity to hear the story and testimony of a person living with HIV/AIDS. His optimistic view on life and his words of encouragement have motivated me to spread the word through education, support, understanding, and action. Thank you ACAS for providing me with this insightful weekend. You have given me more than I contributed.” - Leo Wong ACAS’s services rely on volunteers, and they are recruited twice a year. The volunteer core skill training provided a 3-days over the weekend training that cover a lot of topics. It helps the volunteers to get ready, and learn the values and mission of ACAS. The last training took place on November 23rd to 25th. If you are interested to become a volunteer, the next core training will be in May. You can keep an ey on ACAS’ web site, or if you can’t wait that long, you can email Lisa at volunteer@acas.org and find out how you can help.
“Thank you! It was an enriching experience. Excellent! 5 out of 5 for overall training. Anti-Oppression was well discussed. Did stimulating group exercises. Excellent Speaker.” - Anonymous
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After the show, the exceptional fundraising committee, ACAS staff and volunteers went up on stage and were applauded for all their efforts behind-the-scenes and months of planning to pull off such a spectacular evening. With all 12 courses happily consumed and auction items in hand the smiles on the guests faces as they left the hall that night conveyed to us how successful we were in creating a meaningful and celebratory banquet event!
Peace On Earth! Joy To The World!
Season’s Greetings from All of us @ACAS 10
Q&A
Got questions? We got answers!
by Eric Poon
Q: A:
What is WAD? Is it some kind of MSN language like “What A Day”? That is quite creative to think of WAD as MSN language. Anyway, WAD is actually the short form of World AIDS Day. This day originated in 1988 at the World Summit of Ministers of Health on AIDS Prevention Programmes. Each year December 1st is dedicated as WAD to raise the awareness of AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Remember, it is a day to raise awareness, not the number of infection across the world.
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The theme of WAD this year is Take the Lead. Will ACAS be doing anything? Like go around randomly and tell people to use condoms? Of course we will give out information about AIDS and safe sex but we will not randomly tell people on the street. ACAS is one of the few organizations that focus on the Asian communities. As for the WAD, ACAS is going to set up a booth and organize an event at the heart of Chinatown to provide a chance for many people to know more about AIDS and related information. It is not an easy job to be the leader; any help is appreciated from all volunteers.
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Q: A:
Are two condoms safer than just one? If you are doing grocery shopping, double bags probably give you more strength. When it comes to condoms, one is good enough. In fact, when you put on two condoms, the rubbing of latex can make the condom break more easily, thus putting you and your partner at risk.
Q: A:
What is the “Window Period”? As the HIV antibodies will appear only after 3 weeks to 6 months of infection, some infected people will test negative because their body hasn’t got around to producing antibodies. This period of time is referred to as the "window period". To ensure that one does not take the antibody test during the "window period"; one should wait at least 12 weeks (3 months) from the time of possible exposure before taking the test. Anybody who tests negative but thinks that they have been exposed to the virus should consider having another test six months later. 11