By Megan DePutter, Positive Prevention Coordinator

I am happy to report that the spring/summer session of the Positive Prevention Train-the-Trainer nine-week course is now complete, and all of the participants did a wonderful job. I was really moved when I saw that, starting from the very first class, the participants were committed to supporting one another. Even though the group was incredibly diverse, the participants immediately found commonalities and accepted each others' differences, creating an open and non-judgmental environment in which to learn. As one participant liked to say, "we need to recognize that we're more alike than we are different."

The fall session of Train-the-Trainer runs through October and November. It begins on Wednesday, October 6 and will run every Wednesday for three hours, for nine weeks. The program is designed to increase participants’ self-efficacy in promoting safer sex practices and provides participants with the ability to implement tools for promoting and improving the overall wellbeing of people living with HIV. Participants increase their self confidence and develop the ability to run educational workshops, use social media and conduct one-on-one education sessions.

If you are interested in participating, please let me know, and please spread the word to others who might be interested too! It is quite a commitment, but the skills that are developed and the friendships that are made make this commitment well worth the effort. One participant said at the last class that she could see the changes in her classmates - their smiles and eyes were brighter. This is also a paid opportunity, since participants are building skills that they can then apply to potential volunteer opportunities in the community and at ACG. This opportunity is open to anyone living with HIV and AIDS.

Also Coming Soon: Exciting Positive Prevention Workshops:

• Creative Solutions for Budgeting
• Community Engagement & Volunteering
• Good Cooking on a Low Income
• Planning for the Future

For more information about any of these workshops or to register for the Positive Prevention Train-the-Trainer course, please contact Megan  at positiveprevention@idsguelph.org or call 519-763-2255, ext.161.