Ever since I was in
high school I have been stacked with condoms. I used to keep them in my locker
at school and give them out to students when they asked. And despite some peoples
total delusion and denial toward young people and sex, there was (and still is)
a really positive response to being able to get them in a judgement free way. I
have stood out on streets giving out condoms, distributed them at events, parades,
house parties, given boxes as house warming gifts to university students,
birthday presents, carried bags of them across the world to friends who didn't have
any, I even collect condoms from different
conferences & places I have been in the world. In short condoms have kind
of always been a part of my life both sexually and non-sexually.
Recently I decided that condoms can be, and should be jewelry! This came about as a
solution for expired condoms. Condoms should never be used after their expiry
date! So I can’t very well give them to people, as the latex from which they are
made has more than likely deteriorated making them more susceptible to breakage…ultimately
defeating the purpose of using them.
I have worked in several AIDS service organizations (ASO) & community health centers (CHC) and I have seen more condoms thrown in the garbage than I care to acknowledge. So when I was looking through my distribution stash at home for expired condoms, I just couldn't bring myself to throw them all in the trash! So as a recycle & save project (R&S) I decided to re-purpose condoms in a way that they do not have to strictly be used for sexual experiences. They can be used to make a statement, start conversations, or normalize condom carrying in non-threatening, and more importantly fashionable way! They are really easy to make, do not require many materials and since condom packages come in all kinds of fancy colours and designs now a days you can seriously have a lot of inexpensive fun with this!
Materials:
Instructions:
1. Assemble materials
2. Poke a hole at the top of condom package
3. Use needle nose pliers to open jump ring
4. insert jump into into hole in condom package
5. Use jewelry cutter to cut desired length of link chain
6. attach cut link chain to jump ring and close
7. Open bottom of fishhook attachment with pliers to attach to unattached end of link chain
8. close bottom of fishhook attachment
2. Poke a hole at the top of condom package
3. Use needle nose pliers to open jump ring
4. insert jump into into hole in condom package
5. Use jewelry cutter to cut desired length of link chain
6. attach cut link chain to jump ring and close
7. Open bottom of fishhook attachment with pliers to attach to unattached end of link chain
8. close bottom of fishhook attachment
Thats it!
 |
| even my plants <3 condoms! |
 |
| xcited about condoms |
My approach to sexual health isn't to bombard people with information in a fear mongering way, but to make it fun and accessible. If someone on the street sees me wearing these earrings and it gets them thinking or talking with their social networks then I think that is one step closer to challenging the shame & silence that has so far been of no help.
If you live in the Toronto, Ontario area here are a few places you can get FREE condoms and FREE HIV rapid tests. You do not need to have a health card or be referred to access these services!
West Toronto:
8 Taber Road
8 Taber Road
Phone: (416) 744-0066
Jane Street Clinic
662 Jane Street
Phone: (416) 338-7272
Crossways Clinic
2340 Dundas Street West
Phone: (416) 392-0999
Central Toronto:
The Talk Shop
5110 Yonge Street
Phone: (416) 338-7000
168 Bathurst Street
(416) 703-8482
2 Carlton Street, Suite 500
180 Borough Drive
Phone: (416) 338-7438
Very Important Note: Do not poke holes into condoms you want to use for sex...
Smiles :)
Tuly Maimouna
Tuly Maimouna
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