By Sarah Todd | Project implementation
*Mary is a seventeen-year-old girl who has been living with HIV for several years. She was told by her grandmother that she would never be able to get married or have a normal life; she would be forever separate and distressed by this virus.
This was obviously very discouraging because she didn’t know all the facts about living with HIV. One of our staff members who attended the AIDSLink training was able to meet with Mary to discuss the basic facts about HIV, responsibility and transmission, and how to live a healthy life.
Through this conversation Mary’s eyes were opened to the hope that she still has while living with HIV. She realized that the opportunities that are available to people without HIV are also available to her.
Our Impact
Last year the team was been able to accomplish the following: HIV testing for all students at the orphan school, several mobile medical trips to remote villages that provided HIV testing and counseling, and AIDSLink facilitator’s training for three staff members. Since the training this team is beginning to work together to plan workshops.
Long-Term Plan
This year the team has made plans to incorporate what was learned in the AIDSLink facilitator’s training into existing work that we’re doing. Workshops will be conducted within the orphan school and refugee camps, with our ultimate goal for this year being to implement workshops in the Self-Help groups in the villages. There are currently 38 groups in remote villages along the lakeshore as well as within Mpulungu. The purpose of these groups is to empower the most vulnerable in the community to work together to save money through small businesses, take proper care of their families, and develop a voice in the community. Our anticipation is that through reaching these groups, those living with, or at risk of HIV in the groups and in the wider community will be reached with powerful and hope-bringing knowledge.
*Name changed for privacy.
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