About
Welcome to Positive Outlook, a blog designed to bring the personal stories and unique experiences of participants at AIDS Foundation Houston’s Camp Hope and UniversalTeens to the rest of the world. These stories are submitted anonymously and voluntarily out of respect for campers’ personal privacy.
Camp Hope is more than just a summer camp. For 150 HIV-positive kids, camp offers many of the normal joys of childhood—joys that every child deserves. Most of the camp’s kids live in households that earn less than $1,000 a month and do not otherwise have the resources to attend Camp Hope. Camp offers HIV-infected children a chance to develop friendships with other campers who share their battle against the virus.
UniversalTeens addresses the issues and concerns of teens living with HIV/AIDS. Through a series of life skills-driven workshops, these kids become prepared to transition smoothly into adulthood. UniversalTeens are offered experiences to network with peers and professionals and gain an understanding of the needs and challenges facing adults living with HIV/AIDS.
For many of these kids, Camp Hope and UniversalTeens are the only time of the year when they feel safe enough to freely express their fears and goals. Positive Outlook is intended to be another space to help participants communicate their feelings in a constructive, empowering way. We hope you learn from their experiences, feel a connection to the stories and gain insight into the lives of youth living with HIV/AIDS.