Academics

Critical conversations: Student educates on HIV/AIDS in South Africa

Crawford shared knowledge about HIV/AIDS, safe sex and other sensitive issues through coursework, counseling

HDFS student Kenya Crawford, center, traveled to the University of the Western Cape in South Africa over the summer as current president of the Penn State Chapter of Keep A Child Alive, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing treatment and support services to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. Credit: Kenya CrawfordAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – When Kenya Crawford set out to South Africa over the summer she was prepared to make a difference in the lives of students. She also knew she would learn a great deal from them, but the impact they made on her life is something she never could have imagined.

Hit the ground running

The human development and family studies (HDFS) senior, who was recently elected 2014 Penn State Homecoming Queen, traveled to the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to represent the Penn State Chapter of the Keep a Child Alive program, a nonprofit organization devoted to providing treatment and support services to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

“While abroad I created and implemented interventions regarding sexuality, gender roles, race, healthy interpersonal romantic relationships and social equity,” she said. “In addition, I collaborated with the HIV/AIDS unit and their LGBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer) director in hopes to enhance the gender and women studies minor.”

Specifically, Crawford helped create syllabi focusing on sexuality and safer sex practices in order to decrease the rates of HIV/AIDS.

Crawford also proposed something like the Penn State Ally House, which is a special living option that provides a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ students on campus, to the residential services at UWC, she said

“Currently, I serve as the resident assistant of Penn State’s Ally House and used this experience to shape my proposal for the University of the Western Cape,” Crawford said.

The Philadelphia native lived on the campus of the university, located in Cape Town, for two weeks. And though she had communicated through Skype with the director of the HIV/AIDS Programme at UWC ahead of time, she was still nervous about how the local community would accept her.

“The second I walked into the center they welcomed me with open arms,” she said.

Being from a different background and socioeconomic status, Crawford said, wasn’t an issue.

“That never formed a barrier of the work we had to do,” she said.

The university was respectful and hospitable to her, she said, and was eager to learn from her.

Breaking barriers

Crawford was worried that cultural and language barriers would inhibit her work, or the messages she was trying to get across.

There are a variety of different languages in South Africa, Crawford said, so to prepare she studied Afrikaans – one of the main official languages – beforehand. She was concerned that the sensitive subject matter of safe sex and LGBTQ issues would be lost in translation.

“I introduced some terminology that might be more appropriate to use within the LGBTQ community,” Crawford said.

Through the use of social media and videos, she was able to enhance that communication.

“It was amazing to see how we were able to communicate,” Crawford said. “In that culture (these are) taboo subjects. I was happy to actually (contribute to) that conversation.”

Crawford said during her time at the university women came to her and expressed gratitude for helping them achieve self-confidence among the topics she addressed.

“Sometimes that conversation can make the biggest difference,” she said.

Making a connection

As a resident assistant at Penn State, Crawford has some counseling experience and has learned about the topic through her courses.

“Actually practicing it is very different,” she said. “(Sometimes I would) cry after sessions.”

“I still remember those sessions,” she added.

“I went to do service,” Crawford said, “(but) in reality (the students) actually taught me so much. I wasn’t expecting to get so attached to the students." 

Her personal growth, she said, coupled with her experiences, is invaluable to bring back to Penn State. Using what she learned abroad, she plans to change negative perceptions and break stereotypes of South Africa.

Linda Caldwell, professor of recreation, park and tourism management and director of the Global Leadership Initiative (GLI), recommended Crawford for the experience because she was aware of her involvement in the Keep a Child Alive program. Crawford was a member of the GLI from 2012 to 2013.

Caldwell is involved in a research project with colleagues at UWC that evaluates an intervention given to high school students to prevent sexual risk and substance use through healthy use of leisure time.

“She packed in so much, learned so much, and actually helped develop a course syllabus, suggest a residence life house for GLBT students, and so on,” Caldwell said. “She is articulate, mature and altogether a rock star.”

Minoring in psychology and sexuality/gender studies, Crawford is also a member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative, is current president of Keep A Child Alive at Penn State and held the position of vice president of the Penn State chapter of UNICEF from 2012 to 2013. Additionally, she is a member of the College of Health and Human Development’s Honor Society and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. She has made Penn State’s dean’s list from 2011 to 2014 and is a Ronald McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program scholar.

Crawford’s fellowships and awards include the Peter T. Luckie Award for Excellence in Research, the Edith Pitt Chace Award, the Penn State Student Leadership and Service Scholarship, and the University of Southern California Graduate Preparation Program.

For more information about Keep a Child Alive, visit keepachildalive.org.

For more information about HDFS at Penn State, visit hhd.psu.edu/hdfs.

2014 Homecoming Queen is among Kenya Crawford's many accomplishments. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated October 28, 2014