Saturday we had our second meeting. My first week here, Ken with Face to Face AIDS (the organization that works closely with Pendulum Project and who is responsible for a lot of the funding of projects here) got a grant to start an Teen Group in a village to educate the youth on HIV/AIDS. I mentioned this group in an earlier blog. While here, Ken asked me if I would do the teaching and training on HIV/AIDS. Of course, I jumped at the chance, but was getting a little concerned as we approached the meeting. I have never taught teens about HIV/AIDS, let alone in a culture so different, where a majority of the kids are illiterate. I have found it tough enough to talk about HIV/AIDS to people at home as it is such a complex disease and I never know how specific or general to be to be able to be understood.
It went extremely well if I do say so myself. I divided the 15 kids into 2 groups and asked one to discuss and write down everything they know about HIV and the other to discuss AIDS. I have found at home, most people do not know the difference.
Before I started teaching, I pulled Mike aside as the groups were meeting and asked him if I could talk about oral and anal sex. I wanted to make sure I was being culturally sensitive. He looked at me and told me that they do not "have that here". Oops, my bad. I totally forgot. Neither Malawi or Iran has gays. Good talk, good talk.
Seeing as how they learn through drama, I found some good exercises online to demonstrate about the virus and the immune system. Not an easy task as they do not even know what a cell is.
not the best picture, but i wanted to give you an idea. oh and that is mike translating for me
Hi Christine,
ReplyDeleteYou surely are making a difference in the lives of so many in Malawi!! What a blessing you are to them and it sounds like they are a blessing to you.
It's awesome when that happens!
May this mutual enrichment continue to energize you! Love, Judy