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University of Wisconsin Oshkosh nursing alumna Kristen (Sunderland) Craig ’12, and her husband, Evan, of Wautoma, participated in the Tigray Trek as Peace Corps volunteers in February.

The Tigray Trek, a 150-mile run through the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, is used as a creative way to educate Ethiopians about HIV/AIDS and agriculture.

The Craigs led a seven-day project across the country to educate community members about causes, preventions and treatments for HIV/AIDS and raise money for awareness efforts.

“Many of the communities have had endless HIV awareness efforts, but this was a different take on it,” Kristen Craig said. “It was also important for the Peace Corps to make itself known in cities where volunteers may not be. The sessions not only focused on HIV awareness, but also included helpful information for those who are affected by the virus.”

Craig taught sessions on rainbow plates that encouraged participants to eat different foods for more balanced meals, and she facilitated sessions on preventing diseases by stopping the cycle of contamination in a nearby community.

“At this training, many of the women were so proud to know the answers when called on and to have that acknowledgement by others that they are smart and take good care of their families,” she said. “I loved seeing them be proud and interested in these topics.”

Five Peace Corps volunteers completed the first Tigray Trek in 2013 and educated nearly 530 community members in nine villages along the way. Their success and local community support led the volunteers to organize this year’s trek, which grew to include 15 additional runners and 12 additional volunteers to help lead educational sessions.

Peace Corps volunteers play a key role in combating HIV/AIDS through programs in more than 60 posts worldwide and help to advance the mission of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The Peace Corps trains volunteers who serve in Africa, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia to be advocates and educators of HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

“HIV is such a difficult subject here and a bit taboo in some areas, so allowing for fun and different techniques, like the Tigray Trek, really helped the participants interact and learn something new,” Craig said. “I think just reaching out to this type of group is always rewarding.”

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