Illawarra artist Nina Kourea has teamed up with a group of multicultural young people once again to increase their knowledge and understanding of HIV and AIDS.
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Ms Kourea and the group, featuring newly arrived migrants and refugees, combined their talents to launch a photographic exhibition at Wollongong Youth Services on December 1 to commemorate World AIDS Day.
She worked with students from TAFE Illawarra's Adult Migrant English Program Youth Group to create photographic artworks that express their unique interpretations on the issue of HIV and AIDS.
Ms Kourea said the photography project was designed to empower young multicultural people to increase their knowledge and understanding of HIV and AIDS, and help combat the stigma that still surrounds the virus more than three decades after the first reported cases.
‘’The students were not only excited to develop their photography skills, but were keen to engage in meaningful dialogue about the issue and play a vital role in promoting healthy lifestyles,’’ she said.
Ms Kourea said after working on the successful photographic exhibition last year, she wanted to steer in a different direction this time and encouraged the students to explore street photography.
‘’The red ribbon has become an international symbol associated with HIV and AIDS. Based on this theme, we incorporated the colour red into the artworks to shine a spotlight on the devastating effect of this disease,’’ she said.
Multicultural Youth Development project team leader, Kim Postill, hopes the exhibition serves as a powerful catalyst to improve access to HIV prevention, treatment and support services in the Illawarra, particularly for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Artworks will be showcased at Wollongong Youth Services’ premises at 85 Burelli St, until December 14.
The exhibition is a collaborative project between Nina Kourea, Wollongong City Council Youth Services, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, TAFE Illawarra and the Multicultural Youth Development Project (auspiced by the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra).