By Gwendolyn Burke | Junior Development Officer
Just two weeks ago, mothers2mothers (m2m) was out in full force at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) gatherings in New York City. Our message was simple: African women have the power to unlock health and hope for themselves and their families. We need the continued support of the international community and donors like you to drive further headway, particularly in the battle against HIV/AIDS among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Globally, there are almost 7,000 new HIV infections every week among AGYW aged 15-24, and most of them live in sub-Saharan Africa.
Delivering m2m's message were four inspirational women: Peer Mentor Melody Mazibuko, a 26-year-old mother of three from Durban, South Africa, employed by m2m to work with AGYW; Mentor Mother Relebohile Leoatha, 26 years old and a mother of two from the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho, who runs an m2m site serving women, AGYW, and their families; and Mentor Mother and Trainer Babalwa Mbono, who is from South Africa and was accompanied by her daughter, 14-year-old Anathi. They were joined in New York by Robin Smalley, m2m Co-founder, as well as m2m Board Members Colleen Hancock and Dr. Donna Futterman.
Amid a flurry of speaking slots, media interviews, and networking events, a highlight of the week was when m2m joined forces with longtime partner Johnson & Johnson for a session titled “Real Voices, Real Stories: Moms, Teens, and Realities of HIV in a Changing World.” The session, which was moderated by international journalist Femi Oke, explored the severe epidemic of HIV and AIDS among AGYW. The AGYW group accounted for nearly one-third of m2m’s clients last year.
In front of policymakers, politicians, and donors, Relebohile and Melody talked about their experiences and the challenges they had overcome after becoming pregnant and testing HIV-positive at a young age. The poverty that runs rampant in their communities, coupled with the lack of education about HIV and safe sex in schools, often drives young women to have transactional or intergenerational sex, leaving them vulnerable to contracting the virus.
Relebohile and Melody stressed the importance of having mentors who the girls can see as peers to help provide them with the knowledge and tools needed to keep themselves healthy, regardless of their HIV status. Says Melody, “my dream is to make sure that all of the girls I work with as a Peer Mentor have the opportunity to enjoy their youth and never feel like they are alone in life, as I once did.”
Their stories were followed by a special conversation with Babalwa, one of m2m’s first clients, and her daughter Anathi, with whom she was pregnant when she first came to m2m for help. Babalwa shared the struggle she has had watching the baby she worked so hard to protect from HIV grow into a young woman, now making her own decisions that could impact her health. “There are so many challenges and temptations for her. When she was young, I could control what she did, who she played with, what risks she was exposed to. Now I can only stand on the side and watch, and pray.”
Babalwa has transitioned from client to Mentor Mother, and is now a trainer for the next generation of Mentor Mothers. She knows all too well the importance of giving AGYW more information about HIV, and encouraged parents to overcome the cultural norms to be more open with their children.
The four women representing m2m in New York are passionate and committed to making sure the adolescent girls, women, and families they serve stay healthy and thrive. This level of passion and commitment is critical to ultimately creating an HIV-free generation.
By Gwendolyn Burke | Junior Development Officer
By Gwendolyn Burke | Junior Development Officer
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