Project Title: Surviving HIV/AIDS in Rural Lesotho, Southern Africa
Project Author: David Turkon (Glendale)
Abstract: Write a concise summary with descriptive information about your project, location, time span, your relationship to it, etc. Include specific information-- since you have completed your project, your knowledge is valuable and can be shared with your colleagues.
Project included a literature review of HIV/AIDS research and intervention strategies in Africa. Also included an approximately two-week trip to Lesotho, southern Africa to survey the impace (33%+ infection rate) and to survey local research. Met with local researchers at National University of Lesotho to explore future research possibilities and options. Resarch upon return is ongoing in pursuit of funding for future research project and intervention.
Outcomes: In a paragraph or two describe what worked well. Did you accomplish your objective(s)? Were you able to complete your summer project as written? If not, what did you modify and why? What did not go as well as expected, if anything? Were there any surprises? Note: Use the questions as guides for your outcomes. Do not include detailed list of workshops attended, speakers who presented, or a list of items you have seen, heard, or read.
My literature review was successful and I feel as though I now have a command of HIV/AIDS in Africa and, specifically, my research site of Lesotho. Field research in Lesotho proved difficult as most people were in denial about the pandemic or reluctant to discuss personal encounters due to cultural stigmas associated with it. I was, however, able to interview a couple of families that have coped with an AIDS death and get a sense of the effects it has on families.
I was able to gather a great amount of invaluable information from the Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Health. I met with colleagues at National University of Lesotho to discuss situation and, along with two anthropologists from the University of South Florida, agreed to seek funding for a long-term research and intervention project. Thus, this summer project provided me with the opportunity to establish contacts and initiate a long range research project that will continue contributing to my professional growth for years to come.
Professional Growth: Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, your college, and possibly other colleagues. How did project affect you professionally? What skills did you learn? What environments were you working in and how might your summer project influence your teaching or other responsibilities? Did you gain a different perspective? Was it professionally valuable for you?
As an applied anthropologist I look for ways to engage research and service that contribute toward solving social problems by using the concepts and methods of my discipline. This project accomplished both of these objectives. I enhanced my skills as a field researcher and ethnographer. I enhanced my perspectives on AIDS by witnessing first hand how people cope with it and, especially, the degree to which they are in denial over it. While I was aware of this denial, witnessing it was startling. People simple will not admit that someone in their family has or had AIDS because they are ashamed and afraid other will avoid them. Professionally this is very valuable to me because it empowers me to collaborate with other scholars in my field who are researching on this issue and to participate in professional meetings that deal with the subject. Finally, by establishing a collaborative research agenda with scholars at the National University of Lesotho and the Anthropology Department at the University of South Florida I ensure that this project will continue to contribute to my professional growth for years to come.
Dissemination: How will you share this information with your colleagues, department, students, or college?
Ultimately this research (project) empowers me to speak to my students with the authority of a practitioner in my field. I also share information with colleagues by giving talks. For example, I have spoken on Lesotho at the Lunch and Learn series here at Glendale Community College. And, I talk about this subject with any student or colleague who shows an interest.
For more information about this project, check out the "package" in the Maricopa Learning eXchange:
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mlx/slip.php?item=01375