Community Service Humanizes HIV/AIDS Epidemic for Muskie Fellow

Before volunteering with the Minority AIDS Council of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, Muskie fellow Margarita Aksyonova knew the basics about HIV. But Margarita didn’t see the epidemic on a personal level until she started organizing events with support group leader Patricia Kelly, who has been living with HIV since 1985. “No matter how many movies or news stories you’ve watched about [people living with HIV/AIDS], it’s totally different from actually dealing with them on [a daily basis],” Margarita reflected. “I learned that they are not those who blame everyone for their problems; they are very vulnerable, sensitive and optimistic people.”

According to the United Nations, the rate of HIV infections in Margarita’s home country, Uzbekistan, has been rapidly increasing in recent years.* “Unfortunately, the majority of the Uzbek population is not aware of actual statistics about HIV positive people, their ways of living, and their real problems, as well as emotional issues,” said Margarita. “As far as I know, most of the Uzbek people are afraid of and avoid having any connection with HIV infected people.”

Volunteering is an integral part of the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program, with 40 hours of community service required during the first year of the fellowship. Margarita, who is pursuing an MBA at South Carolina State University through the Muskie program, shares her financial management skills with the Minority AIDS Council, as well as providing hands-on assistance in the community garden organized by the A Family Affair support group. Like many Muskie fellows, Margarita plans to continue her service after completing the required minimum hours.

Giving back allows fellows to meet new people in the community, develop a commitment to volunteer service, and gain professional and leadership skills. “From doing my community service, along with improving my communication skills, I gained things which are beyond the area of my expertise at school,” Margarita said. “First of all, it was a driving force for me to find out more about HIV in Uzbekistan, and hopefully I will even be involved in some HIV/AIDS programs there. Also, it was very useful for me personally to understand that each of those HIV positive people whom I know wants to be accepted by society…to be considered as an ordinary human.”

* Source: “UN Says HIV Rate Sharply Increases in Uzbekistan,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, November 22, 2007