| Open Eyes
because all life
is precious
Open Eyes is a program founded at Colonel By Secondary School
in 2004. The programs goals are to raise awareness across Canada
about the global epidemic that HIV/Aids has become, fundraise
for HIV/Aids Orphanages, and provide hope to countries devastated
by the disease.
In 2004 the Open Eyes students traveled to Thailand, a country
that until very recently was ravaged by HIV/Aids and saw first
hand what tremendous strides the country has taken in dealing
with the disease. They discovered that Thailand reduced its
rate of infection from 140 000 incidents a year in 1991 to
19 000 in 2004 and has become a world leader in the treatment
and development of programs for people with HIV/Aids, including
drastically reducing HIV transmission from mother to child.
Thailand's program has prevented infection in 2 600 newborns
each year and could save the lives of over 300 000 children
worldwide each year. The Open Eyes team also saw first hand
the focus of not only preventing transmission but on promoting
social acceptance of people living with HIV.
The students visited the Agape Home, an HIV/Aids orphanage
in Chaing Mai where they spent time with the children and
staff as well as delivered donations and goods that they had
collected and raised in Canada. This emotional visit inspired
the team to help play a role in eliminating this disease.
Last year the open Eyes Program worked with CACHA (Canada-Africa
Community Health Alliance) and focused its efforts on the
Kilema Orphan Support Program in Tanzania Africa. The students
conducted an awareness campaign throughout the year as well
as running various fundraising activties including a spaghetti
dinner, an all-night ball hockey tournament, a toonie drive,
all of which raised thousands of dollars for the children.
It is the goal of the Open Eyes Program to continue raising
awareness, collecting donations and conducting fundraising
events to help HIV/Aids Orphanages throughout the world. In
addition the team hopes to visit countries in which the disease
is a huge crisis and provide them with support in “winning
the battle” against by bringing their story back to
Canadian students.
HIV/Aids does not needed to be the devastating epidemic it
is in many countries in which millions are dying each year,
millions are being infected at birth, and those infected are
ostracized and outcast.
The Open Eyes Program strives do to all it can to help fight
the epidemic and with support from individuals, organizations,
and governments it is a fight that can be won.
In 2007-2008 the Open Eyes program will continue its support
of the Kilema Orphan Support Program and hopes to visit Africa.
Our goal this year is to raise over $5 000 - enough to fully
support over 50 children for a year. Should you have any questions
or would like to help support the program please feel free
to contact me.
Some of our activities this year include:
Pancake Breakfast
Spaghetti Dinner
Street Hockey Tournament
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