HIV/AIDS Teen Group

I had another amazing day this weekend. On Saturday, we went to Kang'oma Village to start up a Teen Group focused on learning about and educating their peers on HIV/AIDS. Just to give you an idea of how into it these kids are, they had already picked the chairman, vice-chirman, and secretary and all the the dates to meet for the next 8 months before we left after initially talking to them about potentially having this group. We were not able to meet them on the first date they had picked, so they met without us. How adorable? Have you ever heard of teens being so eager to get together to discuss HIV/AIDS. I asked one of the boys what they did at the meeting and he said " we figured out with did not know anything about HIV/AIDS". I did not realize the depth of what he meant until we met the group. Most if not all of the kids in the group have been impacted by HIV/AIDS. They have lost a mother, father, both, or are living with someone who is infected. They have been first hand witnesses to the devastation that this disease can cause a person, a family and an entire community. I think that is why I was so shocked to hear from them that they did not know anything…..what is HIV/AIDS, how do you get did, how do you keep yourself from getting it, can you get married if you are positive, can you get it taking care of someone who is positive, is there anything that can even be done if you find out that you are positive? I was just blown away with how hungry these kids are for information, yet have none. Not to mention a lot of what they do hear, is all hearsay. Amazing. Truly amazing when you can visibly see the impact this disease has had on their community. I was so moved with how big of an impact this could have on them and on their community. Being educated on this disease can have such a big impact on reducing the rate of infection and reducing the death rate. This is the stuff that can make a difference. I feel so lucky to be able to be a part of this.

This is a picture of the Teen Group after we met.