Spray Paint Spreads Awareness in Syria

DAMASCUS— One of the most respected universities in the region, University of Damascus, prides itself on remaining relevant in the modern era, while firmly rooted in one of the oldest cities in the world.   Itself founded in 1923 (and its associated medical school dating back to 1903), it remains one of the few universities still offering the majority of its coursework, including literature, solely in Arabic.

But when it comes to knowledge sharing, what sets it apart, perhaps more than its language of instruction, are the innovative contributions of its student body consisting of thousands of young people.   Y-PEERs in Syria, many of whom are students at the university, are no exception to upholding this standard.

On this past World AIDS Day, young passersby gained their knowledge, and subsequent awareness of HIV, in a completely different language: art.  Y-PEERs organized their first ever graffiti art exposition in the heart of campus, and invited students to take a swipe at it themselves.  The resulting mural, produced after a busy day and many hissing spray cans, aimed to educate people about issues relating to HIV, as well as to decrease stigma against people living with HIV.  

For the better part of the day, the amateur artists attracted a crowd of people who came to see their work of art, to add their own creative touches, and to talk with the Y-PEER team who stood by answering questions.  In addition to the main attraction, many students showed interest in Y-PEER, and could also find educational and promotional brochures with crucial information about HIV.  For example, did you know that 40% of new HIV infections worldwide are among young people? Were you aware that there are an estimated 5.4 million young people in the world (out of the 1.7 billion total) to be living with HIV today? 

But in sharing this alarming news, there was also a message of hope.  “The day was simply awesome,” to put it in the words of one Y-PEER, and it really energized Y-PEER Syria, who is already counting down the days until their next events in the year to come.  And for those who showed some very promising artistic talent, they hope that whatever these activities are, they involve a blank canvas and a splash of color.