PANAJI
A group of 50 youngsters living with HIV or AIDS from Goa, Kholapur and Mangaluru converged at the Jungle Book Resort at Collem on Sunday and will spend a week there in a learning experience to help them achieve their highest potential in their daily lives.
Curated by Human Touch Foundation, the camp which will go on until May 19, is a therapeutic intervention for adolescents and youth living with HIV and AIDS, where their psychological needs are addressed.
"Adolescents living with HIV experience several physical, social, emotional, and developmental challenges," Human Touch Foundation's lead for adolescent health and wellbeing, Sandhya Chawan, said.
Physical differences, negative body image, social isolation, decreased emotional functioning and other developmental concerns are some of the challenges listed by Chawan as challenges faced by adolescents living with HIV or AIDS.
"Our camps address these concerns in a therapeutic manner,” Chawan adds.
The participants at the ongoing camp at Collem's Jungle Book Resort, will have activities focussing on providing an enjoyable experience, besides others that set goals to be achieved.
Other activities are designed to give the group a sense of community and friendship, increase their knowledge of HIV and its management and also contribute to their positive development by creating indelible memories.
The camp provides a safe space for discussion about sexuality and reproductive health, family planning, HIV and several much needed life skills which reduce risky behaviours.
"It gives the campers new opportunities for peer-to-peer support, encourages healthy friendships and sharing of life experiences living with the virus among the participant group," the Foundation's Secretary Venicia Fernandes said.
