Many students are preparing for the exciting arrival of Dance Marathon, but for some students, the reasons for becoming involved with this event are extremely personal.
Alisa Cordesius found herself facing the horrific reality of HIV and AIDS when she traveled to Tanzania for a mission trip two years ago.
As a volunteer for Support for International Change, a non-governmental organization that aids HIV and AIDS patients in Africa, Cordesius spent two weeks educating villagers on how to protect themselves from HIV, but the reality of HIV’s effects did not set in until she met people painfully living with the condition.
While in Africa, Cordesius encountered a widowed pregnant woman who had contracted HIV from her husband and developed AIDS. The woman took desperate measures, including taking the medication Neverapine and scheduling an early C-section, to save her child from HIV transmission.
The baby was born HIV positive.
The mother named her little girl Masai, which translates into “miracle,” because of her gratitude for the baby’s survival.
Cordesius spent time connecting with the mother and child, and credits the moment when she cradled the newborn baby as the most defining moment of her time in Africa.
The smiling child revealed the innocence and helplessness of individuals with HIV, Cordesius said.
“Every new day is a blessing to be alive,” Cordesius said the widow told her.
Cordesius said she was motived by the woman’s ability to remain hopeful despite the danger of her disease.
By witnessing the effects of HIV and AIDS on a helpless widow and child, Cordesius said she finally recognized the fact that they affect people of all ages, around the world.
“This disease is fierce and stops for no one, no matter how small or innocent,” Cordesius stated.
Dana Flax, a fourth-year American literature and culture student, and Lauren Poblete, a fourth-year political science student, are also actively involved with Dance Marathon.
They are currently raising funds for Dance Marathon, which begins on Feb. 21, and are promoting the event on campus.
Like Cordesius, they also witnessed the enormous impact of AIDS when they served as counselors at Camp Kindle, a camp for children who are HIV positive or who have family members with the virus.
Flax said the children remained positive despite the hardships they experienced and were given the opportunity to discuss their condition at camp.
Many children had been taught to conceal the fact that they have HIV because of the controversy associated with the virus, Flax added.
Poblete said she remembered befriending a camper who was ridiculed and discriminated against by her schoolmates when they learned she was HIV positive.
Since many of the children were told to keep their HIV status a secret at home, Camp Kindle provided an opportunity for them to open up to the counselors abut their condition.
Poblete and Flax both acknowledge these conversations with campers as influential in their passion for AIDS activism.
Both expressed their desire to become more involved with organizations promoting AIDS research after bonding with such young yet optimistic patients.
Flax said the experience provided her with a personal connection to the cause that she promoted with Dance Marathon, and reminded her of the importance of UCLA’s philanthropic efforts toward AIDS awareness.
“Pediatric AIDS is the issue of our time. I’ve found my passion and feel the need to do more,” Poblete said.