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Aug 15, 2006 |
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By Stuart Mann But he has not given up hope. “It’s a difficult and rewarding job,” he says. “When somebody you know dies, a part of you dies. But it’s very rewarding to see how a teenager’s life can improve, even if it’s just a smile. To see them learning to live a normal life without the stigma – that’s the best part.” Mr. Ivan was one of 60 young people from around the world who attended the Ecumenical and Interfaith Pre-conference in Toronto Aug. 10-12. The gathering was held prior to the International AIDS Conference. The young people brought energy and passion to the conference. They also brought a sobering statistic: more than 15 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 are living with HIV/AIDS. Like many people involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Mr. Ivan took up the cause after meeting someone who was infected with HIV. A young woman had asked for his help after others had discriminated against her. “It made me more aware of the suffering in my neighbourhood,” he says. “I wanted to share the few things I had – my time, my emotion…whatever it took.” He also got involved because of his faith. “I believe I’m called to show the same kind of love to everyone, no matter what their situation. I also believe this is what it means to be a human being – to care for other human beings.” His work has challenged his faith. “When my friends were dying, I used to ask, ‘How can God let this happen?’ It’s easy to speak about your faith, but it’s much more difficult to actually live it. My work with these teenagers has made my faith more concrete. It’s not just an intellectual exercise.” He says the teenagers often ask him about God. “People who are in life and death situations are interested in spiritual things. You don’t have to create opportunities to talk about God or Jesus Christ – they blossom right there.” © 2004 Anglican Diocese of Toronto |
An aristocratic title is not enough to ensure a noble behaviour. A person's greatness comes from acknowledging the mistakes and agreeing to correct them.
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." (Jimi Hendrix)
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