To all WAIT friends and family:

Although our lives are busy with tight schedules and new challenges, we can always take the time to make a difference in someone else's life. Never underestimate your own ability to change your surroundings by being who you are. While many of us have to take on jobs to support ourselves and our families, we can always take with us our spirit of service and family and spread it to others.

Washington AIDS International Teens

WAIT teaches people of all ages, races, religions, and cultures about the science of HIV. We advocate getting tested, living abstinent until a lifetime partnership, and good health care for those infected. We teach through the performing arts and other talents and skills, including electronic media and communication. WAIT works with anyone wishing to stop to AIDS in their communities and across the globe.

Reflections on a Year of Service (continued from last issue)

The WAIT Team Year-of-Service began in July, 2006, with a number of high school graduates who decided to dedicate a year to stopping AIDS. Since then, we have taught in 17 different states and 5 countries to bring WAIT's life-saving message and to equip others to do the same. While in Washington, we did most of our work out of the Tsubata's home, and learned about ourselves and each other, as well as the world. So what have we gained from this experience thus far? Four of the eight WAIT trainers share their realizations here.

Wongil Dadachanji: When I started the year of service, I thought it was going to be just some easy, chill program. Well, I soon found out what it was really like. I still struggle to keep up with all the work. Organizing things, going on trips, applying for grants, there’s a lot. Still, at the end of the day, we sometimes get to sit down or watch a movie. 

Cathlene Bell: Having gone through some pretty amazing experiences, and meeting many incredible people from all walks of life, I have realized that the only way we will ever succeed in changing this world is if we give of ourselves. Nothing worthwhile has ever resulted from selfishness. So in everything we do – onstage, offstage, at home or on the road – we must give in every moment. Sure, it’s not easy… but it’s always worth it. Because you never know whose life you can change through your actions. The most important things I have learned this year can basically be summed up into the motto we created so many months ago: “Give Love. Give Truth. Serve.” If we can do this, we can - and will - change the world.

Juliette Martin: I guess during this year I learned  the most through watching the other WAIT members and adults...they all amazed me every day. They are really good examples and now I really believe deeply that good examples can change people's lives. So I want a be a good example for my sisters, my friends and the world! Also, now I have a much bigger vision than before. I used to see just what happened around me.  Now I understand more what is happening in the world. I think bigger than before! The whole year wasn't easy...because of many things (especially because I came from another country) but the easy path doesn't make your spirit grow! So, I am really grateful that I could do this year of service ... it changed my life! Also an important point: the Tsubata family really moved me, and taught me that a family can be a place of joy, peace and unity! I see more now the importance of the family! Back in France, things are not gonna be easy, but I really want to work with my family, help them and love them more than ever! I have realized how precious they are for me!

Kensei Tsubata: I'd like to start off with the not-often-mentioned things I developed in the WAIT Year of Service: "Hotel" management, (basically, my room!)  finance (or, "lack of finances") management, and cultural and universal "manners" (basically, understanding when someone is just stressed out!)  Seriously though, I have learned so much this year that is just priceless in value. Besides learning HIV/AIDS education information and how to connect that to a talent, I realize the importance of perseverance in desperation, compassion for others, courage to love, and hope in our dreams. Service is the only way to show your real intentions to help the world, and is the only way to change lives. HIV is just so deadly. I am just hoping to be even more out there in fighting this pandemic after this year passes. I’d like to say "Thank You" to each and every person who I met during this year, because I am grateful for every bit you helped me.

Local News

Drew Freeman Middle School
by Kensei Tsubata

On Thursday, May 24, the DC team performed twice at Drew Freeman Middle School in Suitland, MD. We were invited through a recommendation of Mr. Gilliam, who has seen us at Parkdale High School. It was an amazing time. We did two large assemblies of about 200 each, basically the whole middle school. The kids were very excited to see the presentation. During the acts, their applause and support was literally deafening! Both the 7th and 8th grades groups were very responsive and applauded to the testimonies of WAIT members explaining personal decisions to be abstinent as a way to protect their future families from HIV. Many, many students signed up to join the WAIT team, through eagerly crowding the sign-up sheet and connecting with us to be trained as a WAIT member, they completely filled 3 sheets packed full of names!

Ms. Bryant helped us by introducing us to the school in the beginning of each assembly, and treating us to refreshments in between our high energy performances. She was a great support, and she also was interested in creating a WAIT club/chapter in Drew Freeman Middle School.

As if that great success wasn't enough that day, we went to perform for about hundreds of more people!  We traveled to Arlington, Virginia and to perform at an international and inter-religious conference in the Crystal Gateway Marriott, in Virginia.  We sang a very full harmony of "Star-Spangled Banner" to begin the event. Then, later that evening, we performed "Desert Rose," a dance to the song by Sting which we originally created with the Israeli-Palestinian Jerusalem Multicultural Dance Troupe to give the spirit of the unified hope of peace. Many in the audience were very moved despite performing it in a distant corner of the room, with the camera blocked by many servers and other people walking through the shot.

Early on Friday, the following morning, We performed at Kenilworth Elementary School to assist with our good friend Hana Bulow, in presenting about peace for two school assemblies of the faculty and students from grade K-5. On stage, We acted out possible problematic situations the kids often have in school and social life, and then Hana, Nancy Bulow, and Kaeleigh brainstormed with the crowd to bring options of making a peaceful solution.We then performed our dance made and dedicated to peace, "Desert Rose." It was a joy to see their gleaming eyes in amazement and excitement from the movement and heart of the dance. Throughout the assemblies, the young students were very interactive, responsive, and positive about how they can do their part in creating peace.

Share your heart! Contact us on what you think!

E-mail: info@waitteam.org

Phone: (301) 577-1094

Address: 7752 Decatur Rd., Hyattsville, MD 20784