As an HIV/AIDS Educator in the town of Kabala in Sierra Leone, I was very prepared with a predetermined roster of important statistics and facts that I wanted to pass on to participants in the HIV/AIDS programs. However, during my conversations with participants in the HIV/AIDS workshops, I was surprised to be faced with many recurring questions and doubts about if AIDS actually exists. I began to understand that I could recite my rehearsed AIDS facts all day without actually addressing the real questions of the people of Kabala. They wanted me to prove AIDS is real. They wanted to meet someone with AIDS. They wanted to see it to believe it.

As a result, my colleagues and I developed the idea of using the symbol of snowflakes throughout our workshops and information sessions with the public. When we used snowflakes to talk about AIDS we explained that just because someone in Sierra Leone has not seen snow does not mean snow does not exist. Similarly, just because someone has not seen someone with AIDS does not mean AIDS is not real. This comparison between snowflakes and AIDS has been an invaluable tool that I have relied on to get people thinking about proof of AIDS in a creative new way.  I learned that in order to facilitate a meaningful program I must be prepared to really listen to the questions and concerns of the people I am working with, and be flexible and creative enough to adapt my material to meet their needs.

This photo was taken at the CAUSE Canada booth at the Koinadugu Agricultural Fair, February 2006. The booth was decorated with snowflakes, as we answered questions and concerns people had about HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone.