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Student Global Aids Campaign
Description: The Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC) is a national student and youth movement with chapters at high schools, colleges, and universities across the United States committed to bringing an end to HIV and AIDS in the U.S. and around the world through education, informed advocacy, media work, and direct action.
Community: One of the key missions of SGAC at Colgate is to organize and execute creative fundraisers and awareness events to raise money for relief projects. We believe this not only draws attention to a pressing global issue, but by relating it back to the local area through our partnership with ACR in Syracuse, makes the reality and severity of HIV/AIDS really hit home.
SGAC chapters participate in national campaigns and actions as well as develop and carry out their own projects. Past work has included educating students about the global AIDS crisis by holding teach-ins, film screenings, lectures, and more on campus. SGAC members have also worked on lobbying, writing letters, and making phone calls to the president and members of Congress about global AIDS.
Utilizing media and direct action by holding rallies and press events to galvanize public opinion in the fight against AIDS as well as raising money for and partnering with organizations fighting AIDS in the U.S. or abroad are important issues.
In general, volunteers spend 2-3 hours a week, with a greater commitment leading up to major events.
SGAC sponsors two major events each year. In December, SGAC marks World AIDS Day with speakers and awareness tables. In April, AIDS Action Week is the major fundraiser, featuring a series of panels, speakers, movies, and lunches that culminate in a benefit with a keynote address from a major HIV/AIDS organization. Other awareness events have included "cookie and a condom" at COOP tables and outside the local club, "Take Two" Movies (Life Support) and ACR training sessions.
Volunteers say: "Colgate SGAC strives to raise awareness both concerning the impact of HIV/AIDs in the local area (ACR in Utica) and worldwide (Blantyre North Relief Project and Play Pumps International). Raising money to provide aid and working with ACR has given us a greater sense of involvement and how lucky we are to have plentiful resources readily available."
Resources:
SGAC National
Play Pumps International
Blantyre North