Nursing student becomes a leader for AIDS awareness on campus

Photo © 2009 Holly Strand

As a nursing student at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill. Lauren Buehler intends to use her expertise in medicine to serve neglected populations — particularly those impacted by AIDS.

“[AIDS] is something that is hitting our generation right now,” she explains. She believes that tackling HIV and AIDS can clear a path to confront other crises and injustices.

'Because I have faith'

Lauren began this journey of AIDS advocacy and activism when she learned more about the magnitude of the AIDS crisis during her freshman year of college. She participated in a Chicago AIDS Foundation 5K run to promote advocacy and research with the World Vision Acting on AIDS chapter on her campus (now called ACT:S, World Vision’s college activism network).

At the race,Lauren and her fellow student met HIV patients and had the opportunity to talk with them about their lives and the disease. Lauren was moved by these interactions — they sparked in her a deep desire to be part of the solution and instilled in her a dedication to fight AIDS through advocacy.

“[Because] I have faith, I am one of those people who has to stand up and has to speak out,” she says.

Gaining experience for long-term service

As Lauren trains for her nursing career, she witnesses AIDS patients seeking and receiving treatment. However, she is well aware that in many countries, like those in sub-Saharan Africa, regular treatment for HIV patients is not always available. She seeks to change this.

To better understand the complexities of serving AIDS-affected people and to gain first-hand experience, Lauren spent a summer working at a Boston healthcare center for the homeless, where she was able to witness an HIV and AIDS team at work.

She has also sought opportunities to speak out and raise awareness about the AIDS crisis on her campus. In April, Lauren traveled to Washington D.C., to advocate for increased AIDS funding and poverty-reduction measures. “Government leaders want us to have a role in what we do,” she says. She thinks that many students feel they don’t have a voice, or can’t affect a policy, but she believes that they can.

“I would like to show other students that political action is crucial,” she says. “...They can not only work to end poverty personally, but they can bring it to our leaders.”

Most recently, in October, Lauren ran the Chicago marathon with Team World Vision. “It was so interesting to see so many people running for a cause they believed in,” she says. “It was an awesome and unique place to share how God is working in our lives and the lives of others.”

A campus leader

On Trinity’s campus, Lauren and her fellow advocates are preparing for World AIDS Day, Dec 1. This year, ACT:S students will hold “Lives are on the Line” to honor the day. This creative activism event uses stories of children from countries most affected by AIDS to create awareness, and encourage prayer and action to help those who are most vulnerable to this global pandemic.

Now on the ACT:S national leadership board, Lauren enjoys connecting with other advocacy-minded students on her campus and other campuses. She encourages prospective AIDS advocates to see whether there is a social justice group on their campus.

Her advice: “If there’s no chapter, make one.”

Learn

• Visit worldvisonacts.org, the Web site for World Vision’s college activism network. Share it with a college student in your life.

Two things you can do

• Pray for students like Lauren who are making a difference on their campus and in the world.
• Call your senators to voice your support for programs to prevent mother-to-child-transmission of HIV. Nearly 370,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2007, and a majority of these were through mother-to-child transmission. With more support for HIV and AIDS programs, millions of HIV infections in children can be avoided.