Namibia 2005-2006
 

Laura Jenner grew up in Burlington, ON.  She holds a B.A. Hons in International Development from the University of Guelph, Canada, and an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation from the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK.  Laura is currently working in Windhoek, Namibia, at the University of Namibia.  She is working with the University of Toronto’s Centre for International Health HIV/AIDS Initiative for Africa.  Namibia is a beautiful country with friendly people and amazing wildlife, and Laura has enjoyed seeing as many different parts of the country as possible.

Approximately 1 in 5 people are infected with HIV/AIDS in Namibia, and the disease of course affects many more people.  As one Namibian student stated, “If we are not serious about the precautions that we have to take to prevent this pandemic, Namibia will be a desert without people” (UNAM Student, Oshakati Campus). 

Because HIV/AIDS is a multifaceted issue, it is essential that HIV/AIDS be addressed by all disciplines and particularly important that it be examined within the context of gender relations of power.  Laura is therefore enjoying assisting with the mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS into the University of Namibia’s curriculum and assisting with the expansion of a University of Toronto exchange program, as well as working with students on HIV/AIDS activities and promoting collaborative research in HIV/AIDS.  In the New Year, she will enjoy working on HIV/AIDS course development workshops, continuing her work with students, exploring the potentials of using ICTs to educate about HIV/AIDS, and being a guest lecturer in topics concerning gender and development.  Laura is excited to be part of a project that aims to equip Namibian youth with the skills and information they need to protect themselves and to become critical and effective leaders in their communities in the struggle against HIV/AIDS by using the capacity that exists both within Canada and Namibia to create a ‘Knowledge Network’ where the expertise of both universities are brought together to more effectively combat HIV/AIDS.  For more information about the University of Toronto’s Centre for International Health HIV/AIDS Initiative for Africa, please visit: http://intlhealth.med.utoronto.ca/HIVAIDSINITIATIVE.htm.

 
Laura in Cape Cross, on the coast of Namibia… with many seals!

Laura Jenner
Namibia, 2005-2006