Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer

He is just 10 years old but his voice was tinged with the kind of emotion that should be foreign to one so young. Jasonis HIV positive and one of approximately 20,000 children in Jamaica who are orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. Twenty thousand voices silenced; 20,000 children who are hurt by stigma and discrimination because they, their parents, siblings or caregivers are HIV positive.

However, Panos Caribbean is giving a number of those young people the chance to speak out about the issues that affect them. The non-governmental organisation that partners with media houses to raise awareness on a number of underreported development issues, recently finished training 25 young journalists who are affected and infected by HIV.

Jason is one of the Panos youth journalists, and last Tuesday, he thanked Panos Caribbean for giving him back his voice and appealed for acceptance.

"Children living with HIV are no longer content to sit by and suffer silently. Starting now, we are fighting to take back our voices. We will not be silent anymore about discrimination in schools, in our homes and in our communities," the pint-sized youth stated with a firm voice.

A series of public service announcements

His voice and that of the other 11 Panos youth journalists should soon be heard on mainstream broadcast media as the group produced a series of public-service announcements aimed at garnering understanding of how discrimination affects them and hopefully reduce and eliminate that kind of discrimination.

"We who are living with HIV are not monsters," Jason continued. "We would like to grow up without having to worry about discrimination. We want people in our communities to treat us like normal kids. We won't bite, but we might hug and would love to be hugged sometimes,"

According to Patricia Watson, regional director, HIV and AIDS at Panos Caribbean, The 'Our Own Voices - Youth Fighting HIV through the media' programme officially started in February of this year. The participants were children and youth living with HIV or who have an interest in HIV and AIDS issues.

"Prior to the start of the project, our research found that children who were most affected by HIV were not integrally involved in activities geared towards helping them cope," reported Watson. "We wanted a programme that revolved around them and which dealt with the issues of major concern to them. We felt that it was important that the children themselves own the programme and that whatever activities they carry out comes from them." The project, she said, aims to increase the participation of children and adolescents in the promotion of the rights of children living with HIV, the fight against HIV, and to prepare them to effectively take part in activities aimed at reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS through the media.

The participants, who were between eight and 20 years old, received training in basic print journalism, sex and reproductive health issues and children's rights. Watson said they received and continue to be given counselling when they need it.

As the Panos youth journalists challenge even the Government to live up to promises made, UNAIDS Country Representative to Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas, Miriam Maluwa, noted that it is very challenging for children who are HIV positive to access treatment and care.