FHS Alumnus walking for TeenAIDS awareness.

Dr, John B. Chittick of Boston (Harvard University, Ed.D.)
is undertaking a two-year global mission to raise AIDS
awareness among teenagers in developing nations.  On January
1, 1999, Chittick will begin a 500-mile walk through
southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia to spread AIDS
awareness among the youth of the region.  Currently
executive director of TeenAIDS-PeerCorps, Inc., a non-profit
organization devoted to prevention of adolescent HIV/AIDS
through peer education, Chittick brings his message
face-to-face to teens.  Dr. Chittick states, "Because
teenagers see themselves as invincible, many young people do
not believe they could be vulnerable to an 'adult' problem
like AIDS.  Due to the long lag time separating HIV
infection from full-blown AIDS, teens do not "see" HIV/AIDS
among their peers until they are much older -- and wiser."

Expected to take four months, Dr. Chittick's Walk in Vietnam
has a goal of reaching 10,000 youth.  Using a variety of
education, theatrical and psychological methodologies
developed at Harvard and while working with young people
around the world, Chittick emphasizes accurate medical
information and empowers young people to carry the Stop AIDS
message to at least five of their friends.  His Walk is
being organized by a group of volunteers in Vietnam with the
permission of the government.  Senator Edward Kennedy's
office has been assisting in making necessary arrangements
with the U.S. State Department and American embassies.

Following Vietnam, Dr. Chittick goes to the Asian-Pacific
AIDS Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where he will walk
through the countryside with young medical students.  In the
summer of 1999, Chittick will be walking across Latvia and
Lithuania; from Austria to Slovakia; and then through parts
of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia.  Young people will join
Dr. John (as he is known to teens) along the route where
they will be active in the outreach efforts.  The student
volunteers act as guides and interpreters.  Traveling
lightly, Chittick carries a laptop computer, modem, cell
phone and walking stick.  Progress reports and digitized
photos will be modemed to a team of university students at
Harvard and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
The students will post regular updates on the organization's
website .  Presently, the site is the
largest on the internat devoted entirely to issues of teens
and the prevention of HIV/AIDS.  Schools and students are
encouraged to follow the different Walks in cyberspace.
Viewing the stories and photos of youth from other countries
and cultures, teens everywhere can share their mutual
concern about preventing HIV.

UNAIDS currently estimates that 60% of all new HIV/AIDS
cases worldwide occur in young people between the ages of 15
and 24.  Despite medical advances, there is still no cure
nor vaccine against HIV.  By the year 2000, it is expected
that more women will have contracted HIV/AIDS than men.
Tragically, many babies will be born with HIV.  Chittick
states, "As the world grows smaller and youth travel and
migrate in ever increasing numbers, no neighborhood is
immune.  No child who is reaching puberty is invulnerable.
Peer-led prevention education is the only practical tool we
have to empower teens to avoid high risk behaviors that
could ruin their lives and that of their offspring -- our
next generation."

Plans are also under way for Dr. Chittick to Walk in Brazil,
India and Tanzania in 1999-2000 before finishing his
personal mission at the International AIDS Conference in
Durban, South Africa.  Dr. Chittick can be reached by email:
.  He welcomes comments and
advice from you.  He will also entertain invitations to
spread the Stop AIDS message in Walks in other countries.
His mission is being supported by donors interested in his
peer model approach to fighting youth AIDS through
tax-exempt contributions to his non-profit organization:
TeenAIDS-PeerCorps, Inc., 43 Charles Street #5, Boston, MA
02114, USA.  Chittick has worked with teens at risk in
inner-city America, in Southeast Asia, North Africa, Eastern
Europe and the Caribbean.  He presents his research findings
at AIDS conferences internationally.

email: chittick@post.harvard.edu  internet: www.teenaids.org
phone: 617-742-1325                    fax: 617-742-3499

***********************************
Dr. John Chittick                 |   o/ \o
chittick@tiac.net                 |  /v   v\
http://www.teenaids-peercorps.com |  /|   |\
***********************************