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JAAM was initiated in August 1994 by a group of Final Year Degree students of St. Joseph's Arts and Science College, Bangalore, INDIA, with Mrs. Barbra Naidu ( Department of English) as the Staff Advisor. Students who volunteer to join this group do presentations on HIV/AIDS in all I year Pre-University and I year Degree classes. A session, which lasts for 1 - 2 hours, covers the following areas of concern:
1. Introduction and Statistics - common terms and acronyms are explained and how rapidly the disease is spreading is demonstrated.
2. Myths about AIDS - fallacies and prejudices are exposed.
3. Modes of transmission - factual, scientific knowledge is presented.
4. The Medical Dimension - how HIV attacks and destroys the human immune system is explained.
5. Protection - personalized and factual information on safeguards in the areas of blood donation and transfusion, syringes and intravenous drug use, razor blades, casual and pre- marital sex, etc. are explained.
6. Attitudes - to help students to develop positive attitudes to the PWA ( Person With AIDS) by understanding his/her mental and emotional anxieties.
7. Question Time - to answer questions, clear doubts and correct erroneous notions about the disease.
JAAM has had 10 - 20 presenters every year from the II and III year Degree classes. The newly joined members attend a two day Training Workshop conducted every year to train them to be presenters. Resource persons including professionals from NGOs, blood banks, doctors, lawyers, Hospice care workers and sex education facilitators, are called to teach and discuss matters regarding HIV/AIDS.
In 1998-99 JAAM initiated an Outreach Program doing sessions in three neighborhood Schools/Colleges and organizing visits to Freedom Foundation which is a Hospice for PWAs. In the forthcoming year JAAM plans to reach out more Schools/Colleges and spread as much awareness as possible to FIGHT FOR AN AIDS FREE WORLD.