Activities, activities...

Our monthly meeting last Tuesday night ended much later than usual. In addition to the normal admin matters we usually discuss during Board Meetings, this time we also included clients progress report in the agenda.

Prolonging the meeting even further were discussions on upcoming activities. What activities?

Well, first and foremost we had to discuss our participation in ICAAP in Bali this year. Originally only 8 of us confirmed our participation. Only recently, another volunteer, who's a PLHIV himself, indicated his interest. Because he indicated his interest rather late, after we had utilised our approved budget for ICAAP, I helped him apply for scholarship from the Congress organisers, failing which he is encouraged to apply for MAC scholarship. However, in case he doesn't get any scholarship, we had to discuss other options as well - including subsidizing his costs to attend the Congress. We are depending on him to spearhead the Peer Support Group which we are in the process of setting up, as such the experience at ICAAP will definitely be good for him.

Another activity we discussed is our Annual Family Day scheduled on the first Sunday of August. After discussing a few options, we decided to organise this year's event at a stud farm near Ipoh. I was informed that the view there is magnificent. However, the farm is not open to the public and as such we needed to write in to get special permission from the management of the farm to organise our event there. One of our volunteers had already informally spoken to one of the management, so now we need to formally hand in a letter to request permission.

The last activity discussed is the coming soon Buddies Retreat in Cameron Highlands which will be in June, next weekend to be exact. My, my... we seemed to discuss our activities backwards, didn't we? ICAAP will only be in August... the Family Day even earlier on the first Sunday of August... and the last item discussed is to be held just next week.

But first up, this Sunday, I will be attending a workshop on "Hak Wanita Dalam Perundangan Islam" jointly organised by Sisters in Islam and the Perak Women for Women Association (PWW). Since the workshop is only open to a limited number of participants, when a lady from PWW called me up to offer me a place (fully sponsored), it was an opportunity hard to say no to. Besides, the topic may be very helpful in carrying out my voluntary work for some of the PLHIV women.