ACCKWA collecting, knitting red scarves for World AIDS day

By Isabel Buckmaster

In advance of World AIDS day and their annual Red Scarf Project, the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener & Waterloo Area (A.C.C.K.W.A) will host a panel discussion and vigil to honour those living with HIV in the region. 

At the panel, the hosts will discuss topics related to the AIDS crisis, the history and impacts of HIV/AIDS activism, the evolution of HIV treatment and prevention, HIV stigma, and more. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own questions about HIV/AIDS and related Waterloo Region resources and support.

The theme of this year's AIDS awareness campaign is “Global Solidarity & Shared Responsibility”.

“Isolation is a consequence of HIV-related stigma, and we are confident that this will bring our service users together with members of the community to learn about the real, lived experiences of people living with HIV,” said a quote from the news release about the event. “We look forward to an insightful and engaging conversation as well as seeing our community come together.” 

Later in the week, A.C.C.K.W.A will launch its sixth annual Red Scarf project, an “awareness-raising” and “stigma-busting” initiative where the organization collects red scarves created by service users, volunteers, and community groups, along with personalized messages expressing what their relationship with HIV and what A.C.C.K.W.A means to them.

These scarves and messages will then be available for purchase in December, demonstrating to the community the many different ways HIV can impact someone’s life, regardless of their status.

According to the A.C.C.K.W.A, for the Red Scarf Project, “the process is just as important as the end product.” Originating in London, Ont. in 2012, the Red Scarf project began as a public installation of hundreds of red scarves on the streets of downtown London and Stratford. 

This year, the project hopes to collect at least 50 scarves.

Once the project is completed in December, some of the scarves will be available for purchase to raise money for the A.C.C.K.W.A. food program, and others will be donated to community members through their partners. Community members can also donate scarves, knitting needles, and red yarn to the project. 

Register for the discussion panel on November 29th at 7:00 PM here

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