Photo credit: max_thinks_sees, Creative Commons/Flickr
Saturday, December 1st is World AIDS Day. It started in 1988 and soon blossomed into a global event. Whether you’ve worn a red ribbon for years or just recently decided to get involved, Idealist has jobs, events, and volunteer opportunities from dozens of countries to help you make the world a better place!
To start off, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, based in Washington D.C., currently has nine jobs posted on Idealist, including positions in Lesotho and Tanzania. If you’re looking to stay local, you can’t do much better than Housing Works, in New York City. They provide a wide range of services for over 20,000 homeless or low-income New Yorkers that live with HIV or AIDS. Housing Works currently has eleven jobs on Idealist, ranging from Art Therapist to Van Driver.
If you’re in Central America, check out Fundación Nimehuatzin, in Managua, Nicaragua. Founded in 1990, the Fundación works to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS while simultaneously defending the rights of individuals affected by the disease.
Across the Atlantic, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance works all over the world to support communities in their fight against AIDS. The Alliance offers positions in the United Kingdom, as well as in various other countries, including Myanmar.
If you’re not currently searching for a job but still want to get involved, there’s always an AIDS/HIV awareness event around the corner. Visit the Southwest Branch Library in Altanta, Georgia on World AIDS Day for their “HIV Stops with Me” event and test your knowledge of AIDS while networking with other activists. Or head north a week later to Washington, D.C. for the Foreign Policy Association’s panel “Do Good Abroad”, which includes a discussion on preparing for a career in humanitarian aid.
Finally, if you feel the need to combine your philanthropic efforts with physical exertion, check out Bike Zambia. It’s a 300-mile bike ride that takes place every June and raises money for AIDS groups.
Remember that every person can make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and each little bit helps! So find an organization near you that needs volunteers and donations, or just wear that red ribbon tomorrow!
