In this year’s blog series, we present the writings of Hivpoint’s Health Buddies 2024 in which they reflect on their own journey in promoting sexual health.
Health Buddies spread knowledge about sexual rights and sexual health including HIV and other STIs in migrant and refugee communities. Let us present to you our wonderful Health Buddy Hong.
I am from one of the Asian cultures where sex is seldom a topic for open discussions. In my culture, no one asks or openly admits that they have ever been confused or frustrated.
Where I grew up, people keep quiet about sex and sexuality, as if the issues or confusions on sexuality have never existed.
I worked with psychologists on teenagers’ HIV phobia in a mental health counselling centre before I moved to Finland. This work experience gave me knowledge and awareness of how difficult and frustrating sexual experiences can be for teenagers.
I learned how teenagers are frightened and frustrated but how little they know about HIV and most of other STIs. I also got a lot of satisfaction and joy by helping young people.
It is important to provide sexual education to young people
Because of my previous experiences, I got interested in Health Buddy project and wanted to participate in it. I am happy to instill the basic knowledge on HIV and other STIs and to note how the awareness of sexual rights has been nurtured among young minds.
For me, sexual rights are all about making intimate contact both pleasant and healthy. It’s about everyone being able to have a happy and healthy experience without any compromise on one’s health or general well-being.
Sexual rights include the rights to say yes or no. It also covers the understanding about STIs.
To safeguard our sexual rights, basic knowledge on STIs including HIV is necessary.
We need to understand what STIs are, how they are transmitted and how to prevent transmission of HIV and other STIs, and how we cope if we face something unexpected.
Health Buddy workshops bring joy and knowledge
As a Health Buddy, I’ve been organizing workshops on sexual health for immigrants living in Finland. For me, it is rewarding to see the participants understand what they can do to safeguard their sexual rights. The lack of knowledge on STIs has held them back. After the workshops, they know how to protect themselves while enjoying a healthy intimate relationship with another individual or individuals.
It brings me so much joy when participants of my workshop come with questions and leave my workshop with positive feedback on how the workshop has helped them.
Health Buddy project provides me with the opportunities to review what I have known about HIV and other STIs, and how important it is to protect our own and our partners’ sexual rights.
Organizing the workshops is also beneficial for me in a way that it helps me reinforce my knowledge on the discussed topics and practice my skills in public speaking. It also gives me access to reach out to other individuals and families in Finland.
Being a Health Buddy is definitely a plus to my integration in a new culture.
Of course, among all the other benefits, getting to know and working with people from Hivpoint is a wonderful and valued experience.
Hong
The writer is one of the Hivpoint’s Health Buddies 2024.