NYCAAP Works To Raise Awareness On AIDS Issues

By Susan Coney

Newtown High School students wishing to make a difference in their own community as well as globally have been working to educate and raise AIDS awareness. The students are part of an organization sponsored by Newtown Youth Services called NYCAAP (Newtown Youth Creating AIDS Awareness Program) and has approximately 35 active members.

As part of NYCAAP the students not only hold fundraising activities throughout the year — donating all proceeds to Youth AIDS International Peer Education Group, a nonprofit group operating in more than 60 countries — but participate in peer educational opportunities in their own community.

Every six weeks a group of high school students returns to Newtown Middle School in an effort to educate eighth graders about the spread of AIDS. The students target the eighth grade health classes, which rotate every six weeks, so by the end of the school year all eighth graders have received the message the members of NYCAAP hope to get across.

Newtown Youth Services advisor Nina Allred continually works with the group of students. NYCAAP meets every Wednesday at the high school, primarily to discuss ways in which the group may be effective in the fight against AIDS.

Ms Allred stated, “Hearing the message from high school students is much more powerful. Peer education has been proven to be more successful than conventional methods. The eighth graders really look up to the high schoolers. They want to know all about what it is like at the high school.”

NYCAAP officer Katie McNulty stated that what she liked about the program was the opportunity to work with others toward achieving a difference in a common cause as well as the chance to mentor younger students with the peer education program. She said, “It’s good to try to help younger kids. Some of the kids are really naïve and need the facts.”

Fellow officer Erika Federman said, “It feels good to help inform others. People tend to avoid the topic and it’s good to learn about new facts and spread that information.”

Recently the group raised $364 to be donated to the Youth AIDS International Peer Education Group by holding a bake sale and also by selling necklaces and bracelets.

For those interested in learning more about joining NYCAAP, contact Newtown Youth Services at 270-4335.