Repulse Bay (May 03/04) - Tusarvik school welcomed a special guest speaker this past month who had a strong message for youth.

Michelle Moonen of Vancouver, B.C., is HIV positive.

Moonen made the trip to Repulse to talk to students in Grades 7 through 12 on what it's like to have AIDS.

She also spent a great deal of time discussing healthy lifestyle choices with the students.

Funding for the visit was provided by the Pauktuutit Inuit Womens Association.

Teacher Pamela Kerr Benoit said the students interacted well with Moonen.

"She (Moonen) put the kids in a circle when she was talking and they were very quiet and listened the whole time," said Benoit.

"They paid attention to what she had to say and really seemed to identify with her.

"The students were always very positive and friendly around her and seemed to enjoy the sessions."

The school hosted an HIV/AIDS workshop in addition to Moonen's lectures.

The students were divided into small groups and went from station to station covering a range of topics.

They started by watching a DVD presentation on AIDS, and then joined health worker Simionie Kopak and Dr. Guy Gouin from the BHP company's Community Outreach program to discuss safety issues at their CenterTalk station.

Benoit said the spread-of-disease activities conducted in the science lab was the most popular station among the students.

She said the students absorbed a great deal of information during the two-day event, which they should retain.

"We had a poster contest a few days before she came which centred around the workshop's theme of educating a friend.

"She helped reinforce a lot of what the students put on the posters while she was here.

"Her visit made an impact on the kids and they're going to remember most of what they learned during her visit."