Could you tell us a bit more about yourself, what is your background?
I am Lily, and though I got a bachelor in engineering bachelor I am interested in Social Work and CSR issues. I have been a volunteer of Red Cross and was trained by the International Red Cross as a trainer of Youth Peer Education in 2004. I am passionate about voluntarism, especially on Health issues. While I was in university, I lead and organized a series of events on HIV/AIDS prevention as a volunteer. And now I am working at the Merck Foundation managing HIV/ AIDS Education, Care and Capacity Building programs.
You are working on HIV/ AIDS in China. Tell us a bit more about the current situation on the issue in China.
China’s HIV epidemic remains one of low prevalence overall, but with pockets of high infection among specific sub-populations and in some localities. Estimations show that by the end of 2007, approximately 700,000 were HIV positive.
You empower students to deliver HIV/ AIDS training to villagers, soldiers, waiters etc. Why do you use students to deliver the training? How has your experience with them so far?
Most of the volunteers in my organization, the Chinese University Students Union for Health Education, are university students. They have great passion to change the world and I hope my project can build a platform for the university students to learn by doing. Before they deliver HIV/AIDS awareness trainings in rural villages in Hubei, we train students on how to deliver the knowledge to the target population, how to work in a team, how to communicate with the local organizations, how to summarize a workshop, and so on.
What do you think has been the impact of your work so far on students as well on people attending your workshops?
The volunteers students who participated in my projects put knowledge into practice and got the experience from the voluntary activities. Most of the volunteers said they know how to manage themselves and plan their future after working with the project. The target population who were involved in my project not only got HIV/AIDS and Health information but got information how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS and how to get the related information. And some of the target middle school students became volunteers after some workshops.
What would you advise other young social entrepreneurs who want to start their ventures?
I hope they should find some proper peers who have the same ideas and are great team members. Because I think the teamwork is important for the youths who want to start their ventures. Secondly, I hope they manage, monitor and evaluate their venture step by step.
What is the question noone ever ask you but you wish they would have?
“What’s your motivation of your pursuit of the social activities especially of HIVAIDS prevention?”
The situation in local areas where the HIV/AIDS situation is very serious and talking with the people who are affected by HIVADIS is important for me to keep my passion. And the good and positive feedback from the target population makes me want to continue my project. Surely the support from the peers who worked with me is also very important. And I thank my parents who agree with my project.
