What is the SHARE Program?

The SHARE Program is designed to give voice to those who are living with and affected by HIV/AIDS to help the public at large understand some of the psychosocial, emotional and practical day to day impacts that living with or being affected by HIV/AIDS presents. The volunteer speakers are trained to challenge the stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS by putting a human face to the disease and making their story a living reality.

Where do we speak?

The SHARE Program is invited to speak at many diverse and interesting venues. Our volunteers have presented in schools, community partners, churches, workplaces, for the media, and at special events.

Presentations and Booths

In addition to the SHARE program, the AIDS Committee of London has an exceptionally educated staff willing and able to provide information on a wide range of topics related to HIV and AIDS. From discrimination to universal precautions, the staff can design a presentation and present onsite at your location. We can also provide information booths should you be hosting an information fair, health fair or otherwise. We can also provide you with educational materials such as HIV/AIDS basics, testing information and safer sex. All of these services are provided free of charge, but donations are always appreciated.

Request a Presentation for your Group or Event

If you’d like to request a SHARE speaker, a presentation on HIV/AIDS or an information booth please complete our request form with as much detail as you can provide, or call 519-434-1601 for more information. We ask that you submit your request at least 3 weeks in advance to assure that we can meet your request.

Download a request form below and email it to presentations@aidslondon.com or fax to 519-434-1843.  Thanks for your interest!

Click here for the form in Excel format
Click here for the form in PDF format

Become a speaker

Living with HIV or AIDS? Have a story to tell that might make a difference to the lives of others? The SHARE program provides full training to those who are infected and affected and who wish to share their story. The first step is to attend a general orientation and basic education series that the AIDS Committee of London provides onsite (See home page for upcoming dates). You’ll then meet with the Volunteer Coordinator to discuss the actual details of the SHARE specific training. When you’ve completed the training, the group itself will evaluate your presentation as well as the coordinator and here you’ll receive feedback and encouragement as you continue to hone your speaking skills.

If you would like information on becoming a SHARE volunteer, please contact Dana Nosella, our Volunteer Coordinator at dnosella@aidslondon.com 

Meet the Speakers

Melissa – 40years of age, B.A. Psychology 
I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason.  I don't claim to always know what that reason is but what I do know is I am meant to be telling you my story.  I decided to tell my story in hopes that my words will make a difference. That when you see me, an ordinary everyday woman, your perceptions, stereotypes or possible judgments about HIV will change, and one less HIV+ person will feel the stigma and discrimination that goes with this disease. That someone in this room, hearing my story will walk out those doors and change the way they protect themselves.  That is why I am here telling you my story.

Jay – I am a 40-year-old male that has been living with HIV and now AIDS for the last 17 years.  I decided to start doing public speaking again because I feel that people don’t seem to be getting the message to practice safe sex and infection rates among our youth is increasing.
However now that I am back into public speaking it has become obvious to me that maybe it is not just the youth that I need to be reaching out to.  It is their parents as well.  The parents are the ones that do not want people like me in their schools giving their children survival tools.  It’s through ignorance that the spread of this disease is going to continue and until we change the STIGMA and the conversations that occur around the family dinner table, nothing is going to change, and the infection rates are going to continue to climb.  Many of our youth are going to be forced to live lonely, infected lives until these things change.

Kevin – My name is Kevin and I am 30 years old and I have been living with HIV for six years now. Since my diagnosis I have become quite involved in the positive community and the AIDS Committee of London both as a client and volunteer. I was elected to the board of directors in 2005 and now enjoy being part of the Almond Tree Project, a West African AIDS Foundation partnership with ACOL and also am part of the SHARE program. I have been compelled to tell my story and to share with others the struggles and triumphs I face while living with this disease. It is my hope that in doing so I will inspire others to make informed and educated sexual choices and to give hope to my positive brothers and sisters everywhere.

Russ – Russ is a 55-year-old gentleman who for a long time has been committed to helping people feel better about themselves. He has been settled in London Ontario for some 31 years and has seen this world without HIV/AIDS and has followed it ever since it came to London in the early 80’s. He’s been to many funerals of friends and also lost a partner in 1997. Since then he has been involved with Camp Wendake, the John Gordon Home and the AIDS Committee of London. Russ’s message is about love and compassion as his love story and his wish to speak about HIV/AIDS is meant to educate the younger generations about how they can protect themselves from this epidemic.

Jill – Jill has been a volunteer speaker for the AIDS Committee of London since the summer of 2004. She is an active ACOL volunteer on many other levels as well. Jill’s motivation for sharing her story is to try to alleviate similar traumas for other folks who may also be HIV+. She previously lived by the motto of  “It couldn’t possibly happen to me!” Now, one of her priorities in life is helping to prevent it from happening to someone else!

Ingrid – Hello, my name is Ingrid Cuffe and I am a 15-year-old girl who wants to educate the public about HIV and AIDS. I attend Beal Secondary School here in London and just going through grade 10. I have been affected by HIV/AIDS since I was 5 years old as both of my parents are infected, my father recently just passing away from AIDS. This has caused me to grow up faster that most kids and made me become more aware of what is going on in the world and here in London around me. It’s been hard for my brother and I as we were raised just by my mother and have never really known her without living with this disease.