tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42112971309843997512012-02-16T08:13:11.337-05:00Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-32131582430916470152009-03-30T10:49:00.004-04:002009-04-03T17:46:38.936-04:00

My research among teens suggests that emails are becoming passé and text messaging is their latest fad. I say “fad” because youth are fickle and are into the latest trends, especially if they are in the forefront of using novel technologies that adults are ignorant of or find uncomfortable to use. I am specifically talking about the majority of the under 18 crowd. This change has become

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-63116255513532361302009-03-29T18:29:00.007-04:002009-03-31T14:55:55.815-04:00

It’s Saturday and the rain is starting. I am in Washington, D.C. for the Youth AIDS Media Institute (YAMI) pilot program to train young people in novel technological approaches. This amazing event relies on significant input from each participant in designing a national AIDS awareness program. I am chaperoning four of our PeerCorps youth, Megan Benevides, Peter Keto, Matt Hawkins and Chris

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-26994042157232719182009-02-20T00:20:00.002-05:002009-02-20T00:25:31.187-05:00

Former PeerCorps Youth Stay Involved.It is thrilling for me to hear from former PeerCorps volunteers whom I trained years ago. Out of the clear blue, an email will arrive from once-teens but now young adults asking if I remember them. Of course I do, yet, sometimes I need to check my rolodex to be sure as many youth share similar-looking names and I have my Senior moments (hey, I am 61 years

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-69645986944311808182009-02-17T01:10:00.002-05:002009-02-17T01:28:47.164-05:00

This blog has been percolating in my head like a finely brewing cup of coffee that is in imminent danger of burning. With as little melodrama as I can avoid, let me lay IT out because there’s nothing more to lose. Essentially, I have lost everything I own by volunteering the last twelve years of my life to the cause of warning teens about the unseen danger of HIV/AIDS. I have never been able

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-63067000094343315822009-02-12T17:34:00.004-05:002009-02-12T22:25:42.533-05:00

Mashinani PeerCorps.On my Heart of Africa Walk, I had tickets to three destinations that all required that I transit through Nairobi, Kenya. That was alright with me because I wanted to meet again with some wonderful young people that I had first met in 2000 following my attendance at the International AIDS Conference that was held in Durban, South Africa. I had stayed at Father D’Agostino’s

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-83188078832632968292009-02-06T17:42:00.003-05:002009-02-10T14:03:03.706-05:00

Congo Revisited & Some Really Good PeopleCivil wars and fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have decimated the infrastructure and hurt the populace since the advent of colonialism. Under dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and since then, over 5 million Congolese have been killed, making the civilian death toll the worse since the end of World War II. The poor people of this country have

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-15260517127916187742009-01-30T22:16:00.007-05:002009-02-10T15:15:42.938-05:00

A truly serendipitous moment!This chance meeting will blow you away. It did me. On November 25, two days before Thanksgiving, I was in Rwanda preparing for our World AIDS Day Webcast less than six days away. We couldn’t find any way to get our videos and photo materials to the Fitchburg office in time for inclusion for the World AIDS Day Webcast on December 1st from the Democratic Republic of

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-1995759221129950222008-12-12T02:05:00.001-05:002008-12-12T02:05:47.456-05:00

We arrived in Matadi a few days ago to travel down the mighty Congo River and visit remote villages that have heard nothing about AIDS. It was all arranged weeks ago while I was in the U.S. by our official hosts, RACOJ SIDA. However, we were denied permission at the very last moment by Bas Congo province authorities that questioned why two Americans like Jimmy and me wanted to take boats on the

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-65316231352031875642008-12-11T04:11:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:12:06.580-05:00

Let’s be clear: being white in a major African country like the Congo (DRC) where white people are not commonly seen (due in large measure to the on-again, off-again civil wars) presents headaches. Older generations have been around Europeans for a long time but many of the children and youth have not. For them, we are a curiosity with many tales passed down about our kind, a number that are

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-10194760685544358222008-12-10T03:11:00.002-05:002008-12-10T14:43:22.397-05:00

Some times it seems as if events are spinning out of control. That is what is happening here in complex Congo DRC. I am so tired of all this unnecessary bureaucracy and police interventions. After working for nine days here and appearing on a nationwide TV show for an hour talking about my “AIDS Attacks” on the streets, I was told yesterday by a top official in the city of Matadi that our work

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-64707569608375020522008-12-06T04:57:00.000-05:002008-12-06T04:59:13.491-05:00

Police ShakedownToday, Jerome, the driver for RACOJ SIDA was arrested for violating a minor traffic regulation in front of three policemen directing traffic in the city center. According to my volunteers, it was likely that the cops decided that mre money could be extracted from a driver with a white man sitting in the car. And the fact that Christmas is right around the corner, is an added

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-32664370534262489032008-12-04T05:31:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:11:27.641-05:00

When I travel, I pay close attention to how young people react to their environment and with whom they interact. I make quick observations that are usually accurate based on my experiences traveling to over 100 countries (including many before my AIDS Walks began in 1998) and from living with families in diverse foreign cultures. However, I recognize that any snap judgments are tentative and

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-8895041344030855942008-12-01T03:56:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:22:44.917-05:00

I did my live radio interview with BBC world radio (“UpAllNight”) a few hours ago at the dawn of December 1 that marks our remembrance of the disease that has now killed millions of innocent lives – many of whom are youth. As a kid in the 50s, I was brought up on the Lone Ranger, Buck Rogers and Tarzan. These Saturday morning serials captivated me and my imagination ran wild. I remember being

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-46704208116881820612008-11-28T13:22:00.000-05:002008-11-28T13:23:09.581-05:00

The last few days in Rwanda have been filled with AIDS Attacks in remote villages. Unlike our street outreach in urban areas where it is easy to find large numbers of young people to talk with -- in the countryside, people of all ages are curious whenever they see a crowd. And our AIDS Attacks always generate crowds. Adults leave their chores and amble over. For the first time on this trip, I

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-36114529617023299742008-11-27T02:35:00.000-05:002008-11-27T02:36:17.679-05:00

Flying over the green, rolling hills of Rwanda, I gazed down at the maze of red-dirt rural streets with a sickened feeling in my stomach. I couldn’t help but think that here is where hundreds of thousands of mutilated bodies lay just fourteen years ago. In one of the worst acts of genocide in the recent past, 800,000 Rwandans (mostly from the minority Tutsi tribe) were hacked to death in 1994.

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-13898945585742161432008-11-26T08:23:00.000-05:002008-11-26T08:24:49.649-05:00

Without a doubt, my work in Sudan has been among the most pleasurable and fruitful that I can remember in many years. What a surprise! The Sudanese people are truly some of the friendliest I have ever met, and I travel to many countries all over the world. It is sad that the politics between the United States and Sudan and the issue over the tremendous suffering in the Darfur has complicated

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-19434763484119189322008-11-21T06:59:00.000-05:002008-11-21T07:01:06.463-05:00

Yesterday we visited a large refugee camp an hour outside of Khartoum. Up until a few years ago, it was nothing but tents filled with people who were escaping the violence in the Southern area of Darfur. However, today there are simple mud houses for 24,000 people. It is a monochromatic scene. There are no green trees; there is no blue water; there is only dust, sand, and brown squat

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-4088776522484069592008-11-20T02:25:00.000-05:002008-11-20T02:27:14.436-05:00

Because of the on-going civil strife in Sudan with the accusations of genocide and the political mess over Dafur, the U.S. and Sudanese governments are adversaries. As an American, I must obtain a special visa to enter. The current situation severely complicated getting the necessary letters of invitation from government ministries or bona fide organizations aligned with them. They always want

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-79929731318123926792008-11-19T06:48:00.000-05:002008-11-19T06:49:26.784-05:00

As I write this, the capitol city of Khartoum, Sudan is asleep. It is about 4:30 am and I can’t sleep. There is no light yet. A small dog in the distance is yelping in pain and a car has just sped by the international youth hostel where we are staying. In a few hours, the official car will come and pick me up for the start of trainings at SNAP – the Sudanese National AIDS Control Programme.

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-66600427477766407222008-11-17T15:33:00.002-05:002008-11-17T15:43:00.127-05:00

Jimmy and I finally arrived in Nairobi, Kenya today. After a long wait at customs we were picked up by Lynne Elson, who serves on the Global Advisory Council and we are now at her house. Tomorrow morning we will go to Nyumbani AIDS orphanage, the AIDS orpahange that I had visited in 2000. We will be meeting with Sister Mary Owen and with some teenagers that live in the homes there. We are

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-73368522893605756822008-11-14T01:08:00.005-05:002008-11-15T16:05:24.378-05:00

It's been a string of late nights now -- and only two days to go before I get to Africa, a beautiful and complex continent. Some people say they are scared of going there but I think they are missing the excitement of different countries and peoples in transition. Last night we had a rousing send-off for Jimmy Kircher and me at the swank Cafe Destare in Fitchburg. Ranging in age from 16 to 91

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-25568153440335856622008-11-11T23:41:00.005-05:002008-11-12T01:42:14.794-05:00

For most all professionals that accept that HIV is the cause for AIDS, little hope has existed that a cure would soon be found. After multi-millions of dollars and thousands of scientists working on AIDS research for 25 years, we have treatments but no cure. We don’t have a vaccine for HIV. Now comes a startling headline in Friday's Wall Street Journal: “A Doctor, a Mutation and a Potential

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-73530538861322454642008-11-10T08:47:00.000-05:002008-11-10T08:48:18.462-05:00

Six more days before we leave for the Heart of Africa AIDS Prevention Walk. Two more days before Jimmy Kircher arrives from Dartmouth College to be trained and assigned trip tasks. Having Jimmy on board is unique because I have never travelled with a volunteer for more than a week. He is keeping track of expenses, acting as an advance man, helping with the video postings to You Tube and our

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-42159742378519421132008-11-08T20:07:00.000-05:002008-11-08T20:08:01.103-05:00

The response by some adults is one of complete indifference to thethreat of HIV targeting teens. This is most bizarre because no doubtexists among experts that AIDS is becoming a more youth-orientedpandemic. With half of all new cases of HIV in the world occurringamong 12-24 years olds (UNAIDS, Geneva), this emerging trend isserious, deadly serious. But just like with the original high

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-66339179489258648622008-11-07T19:34:00.001-05:002008-11-07T19:36:24.678-05:00

Why are we travelling to dangerous areas in Africa to spread the news about AIDS prevention? I hear this a lot. I just got off the phone with a person who expressed her concern. I realize that it is difficult for some people to realize that ordinary teens are very much at risk for HIV/AIDS -- and too many governments have failed to address the situation adequately. If we don't reach out --

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-79687427457534020452008-11-04T14:43:00.005-05:002008-11-05T01:51:45.765-05:00

For many adults, the issue of AIDS is off their radar. That's very bad news for their teenage children, nephews and nieces or young friends. Let me tell you about the incredibly stupid advice one medical doctor recently gave a college student in my hometown.A young 21 year old called me that he feared he might have gotten AIDS after noticing tiny spots on his penis following unprotected sex with

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-51291477713121880642008-11-02T23:30:00.006-05:002008-11-03T10:42:52.863-05:00

Our first destination is Sudan. We are working in conjunction with three organizations, the official SNAP, AEDAS and UMST (the university). We will work and train in Khartoum and in outside areas. I am pleased that these groups are planning our schedule and complimentary accommodations. You have to have invitations to get a government-approved visa to the country. We all hear about Dafur and

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-91267773232716170622008-11-02T23:05:00.001-05:002008-11-02T23:10:20.496-05:00

Congo (DRC) one of the countries that we are visiting is experiencing renewed rebel advances in its eastern region near the western area of Rwanda, where Jimmy Kircher and I will also be training teens. We will avoid the fighting but will be going into the interior regions including up the Congo River. Wherever there is civil strife, teens are especially at risk when they are not getting HIV

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-87276460790944955192008-10-29T11:18:00.001-04:002008-10-29T11:18:53.512-04:00

When it rains...  Last week the Bank foreclosed on my house (I have not been able to take my salaries). Now problems with visas because of US State Department Advisory warnings.  Fundraising has tanked because of the crisis.  But the Board, an anonymous donor and Fidelity Bank of Fitchburg came together to forestall the foreclosure for a year.  Sigh...  Today the Boston Globe is here to do a

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4211297130984399751.post-20619013027381090002008-10-24T17:38:00.002-04:002008-11-08T20:11:25.476-05:00

This is my first blog in '08 and I am getting ready to go to Africa. Check every day or so for more information. We will be going into some of the most dangerous areas of Africa but we will have great young people as our hosts. The mission is to educate, You will be able to watch on youtube.

Dr. John Chittickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13015610086235771133noreply@blogger.com0