SANGUEM

The 3rd Leadership Camp (I CAN) was organized by organised by Human Touch Foundation from November 13-17 at Nature’s Nest, Surla. The four-day residential camp has participation of 30 adolescents living with HIV from the state of Goa.

Adolescents living with HIV face unique challenges when it comes to coping with their condition. Many of them are in denial, afraid, misinformed or lack familial or social support. Reaching youngsters at an impressionable age can lay the foundations for a responsible lifestyle, including sex and marriage.  Right information, an enabling environment and supportive services help adolescents take informed decisions regarding important health issues and contribute to a better future, says Peter F. Borges, Founder and CEO of Human Touch Foundation.

The camp had sessions revolving around self-confidence; time-management skills, goal-setting abilities, self-esteem, sexuality, personality development, dance movement therapy, relationships by various motivational speakers which included Vividh Pawaskar, Priya Almeida, Tiburcio Gonsalves, Kanan Tandi and Surabhi Thakur. Chinmay Modi, associated with Y Plus Network of Global Network of People Living with HIV conducted sessions on treatment adherence and positive living.

The camp was supported by Commscope India Pvt. Ltd, GKB Lenses Pvt. Ltd, Rotary Club of Panjim Riviera and Youth LEAD. Human Touch implements “We Care” project and provides care and support to over 300 children and adolescents living with HIV in Goa.