Discovery of hope through HIV and AIDS edutainment

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SEXUAL DISEASES THROUGH RISKY BEHAVIOURS RAMPANT
IN SCHOOLS

When the Change Agents conducted some awareness; we discovered a trend that is very unfortunate.  Young boys and girls seem to be living risky lives without even knowing it.  The most frustrating issue for the team is that our beneficiaries lack clinical knowledge of what could be wrong with them until it is too late.

We showed the learners of some Sexually Transmitted Infections.  A girl by the name of Gugu (pseudo name) approached the facilitators and said that she had the similar symptoms to what was seen on the pictures.   A clear message was put across that she needed to be seen by a medical practiotner.  She eventually agreed after much hesitation to fear and shame.  The clinic nearby discovered that she had herpes.  She was given some medication and ointments.

Another learner (Zanele) expressed that she went out with a guy.  Zanele had just found out that his girlfriend was HIV positive.  This caused great fear for our teenage girl.  Her biggest frustration was that she could be HIV positive.  She had so many questions that she mentioned.  A facilitator told that in order for all of us to find peace, we need to confront the facts.  She was advised to go for Voluntary Counselling and Testing.

There is a very abnormal way in the South African schools with regards to relationships.  Teenagers in schools do not test for HIV before they date.  Another weakness is that relationships are expected to be sexual.  Making extremely hard for those who wish to date and abstain.  Abstinence is not part of our culture anymore!! fin.

 

CHANGE AGENTS PROJECT INTERVENTION ON RIGHTS AND CARE ISSUES

When the Change Agents ran an educators’ workshop on 03 March 2010, they were told of a girl of 16 years, named Kate.  Kate lost her parents through AIDS and she is currently living with her aunt.  She is very sick and has developed all sorts of opportunistic infections; tuberculosis, ear infection, thrush in the mouth and Kaposi’s sarcoma – is a skin cancer.     The sad reality is that Kate is in the AIDS stage.  She is aware of her status as tests were conducted.  What has really devastated Kate is that her right to education has been compromised.

The learners at the school became uncomfortable around Kate.  They communicated with the educators that they were feeling itchy.  Some learners told their parents about Kate’s skin condition and a group of parents approached the school that they ‘feared’ for their children.  As a result, the school asked Kate to stay at home until she recovered.  However, nobody knew when Kate would return.   The very concerned Life Orientation educators shared the sad story. 

The Change Agents team made a deduction that Kate’s rights to education had been infringed, care that she could easily access was not evident, and the support that any AIDS orphan and an HIV positive person need was denied.  Change Agents visited Kate’s home and found that literacy classes of ARVs had been taken already and completed.  We made an appointment with the Centre of Hope Clinic – run by EThekwini Community Church who gave us a clear picture of the processes that were taken before Kate was confirmed ARV literate.  Despite this literacy, the aunt was despondent because she had been told to return the next day so many times at the clinic.  The queues are long and no one seemed to care and names are randomly shouted for anyone to have the doctor see them.

The Change Agents team rushed to the clinic and waited for 2 hours before a doctor could be seen.  The team was not called in, but insisted on speaking to the doctor who was very annoyed, but complied.  The doctor told us that Kate has a skin condition, caused by her HIV status.  He then began to listen to the story of Kate, despite attempts to chase us out. 

He conducted an examination on her skin, had the team take her for X – ray, and interviewed her on her social and school difficulties.  She tested positive on Tuberculosis and immediately put on TB treatment.  She will be given 2 weeks and then start her ARV treatment!  She received medication for her ear infection, thrush in the mouth and pills to take daily for other minor sicknesses. 

The next step will be to challenge the school about her rights to education and the fact that she will be on TB medication.  The doctor will write a letter to Social Development Department for a child grant. Her classmates will be educated on HIV/AIDS stigma and facts.  The clinic has said that they can train parents on her skin condition as it is not contagious. 

The Change Agents team will give the school some feedback on the progress made.  We will motivate that she returns to class at the beginning of 2nd term. 

Kate is determined to be healthy again.  She is indeed a fighter, who has lived 16 years with HIV.  She is a bright young person who cannot wait to get back to school and reclaim her right to education, health and youthfulness! fin.

 

MAKING A STAND

Malusi is a naughty boy who had been sleeping with many different girls.  As he watched the STI video he shared that it opened his eyes to reality and where his behaviour could lead him.  He said he has decided to abstain from sexual activities before it’s too late.  He knows that his peers will not believe him but he will stand by his decision. fin.

 

DISCRIMINATION FROM A GRANDMOTHER

On the last day of our workshop during Vigil one of the learners sang a song and after that she cried until one of the facilitators took her outside. She told the facilitator that she cant take it anymore.  Whenever the topic of HIV is discussed it brings back the memory of her mother who has passed on.  Her granny constantly tells this girl that her mother passed away because she was HIV positive and for her it seems obvious that she is also HIV positive.

The facilitator asked her whether she had been for VCT before and she said yes, but they did not give her the results they gave them to her granny. This young girl was also raped by her uncle.  When she confided in her granny, her granny seemed not to believ her.  Her granny treats her terribly.  She won’t use the same eating utensils as her, as passes remarks that this girl is HIV positive.  This young girl is now living with her aunt.  We have made contact with this young girl and are trying to find a way of how we can help her together with the Yazini guys. fin.

 

Indeed identity and self esteem are very important.

The Change Agents team required learners to look into the mirror and say whether they liked or disliked what they saw in the mirror. As Sabelo looked at himself in the mirror he expressed whet he disliked. He shared something that is peculiar about his private organ. He was uncomfortable to share this issue, especially since other learners were there. However, as the rest of the group shared, Sabelo gained confidence and shared that his male organ is bigger than most of the others boys his age. Others made fun of it, and this hurt Sabelo. He shared that when he was at home, he would not tuck his shirt in which made him feel more comfortable. However at school, he had no choice but to tuck his shirt in and some of the learners teased him and made fun of him. As he said this, tears mounted in his eyes.

Listening and taking part in the activities in the session on self acceptance, Sabelohe is learning to deal with the situation positively. One learner in Sabelo’s group intervened and apologized for making fun of him saying they did not know he was so uncomfortable and they made peace. fin.

 

Alpha is the cricket captain in the school and had a big match to prepare for. However chances of him playing were very low. On the last day after school he confessed to the facilitator that he has sexually active and thought he’s bewitched as both him and his brother had pubic lice. After the information on STIs given by the team, he realised he had an infection but was afraid to go to the clinic. Alpha approached the team for help. We suggested he go to the clinic. We accompanied him to the clinic and found that he had genital warts. He said he’ll be more careful because he cannot experience the same pain. Alpha was grateful for the help he was given.

It is amazing what secrets can do to a human soul. During the self awareness activity, learners were asked to share their good and bad experiences. Lensha suddenly cried and shared that her brother died a year ago and she knows the murderers but it’s so difficult to forgive them. She exclaimed that she has never shared this before. Whenever she sees them it brings back such painful and horrible emotions. After sharing this, she shared that it felt like something had been taken off her shoulders. This young person was almost destroyed because she felt she did not have anyone to trust and share this with. fin.

 

Sboniso - was very quiet and didn’t participate in group activities. He was very reserved and appeared to be distant from others in almost all activities. Teachers and fellow learners have been concerned about him, but they couldn’t get through to him. One learner approached the Change Agents facilitator telling the facilitator that since Sboniso lost his mom, he became very silent. Since his mom’s death, he never talks to anybody and never laughs. Seeing him laugh for the first time during the team building activity, was extremely touching for some of the learners, as they realised this was a breakthrough for him. Sboniso is now in the process of accepting what has happened to his mom.

One of our activities used the theme ‘WHO AM I’ where learners had a chance to write down their good and bad behaviours and consequences thereof. This was an eye opener for Lizeka who confessed she is an alcoholic, goes to night clubs and dates older guys. After actually seeing the outcome of her bad behaviour she realised that her behaviour is not good. She recalled a horrific incident where she got stabbed and lost her friend on the scene at the night club. Lizeka had never had the opportunity to do introspection. ‘WHO AM I’ was an eye opener! Lizeka expressed that although change would be difficult, she is willing to change. She also asked her peers to hold her accountable to the promise she has made for her own life. fin.

 

Nqobile lost her mom few years ago. During the course of the workshop she shared her feelings and emotions with one of the facilitators. She explained that she sometimes looses hope and has even attempted to commit suicide. Nqobile often felt that if her mom was alive things would have been different for her. The facilitator counselled her and spoke about positive living. The facilitator advised her not to loose hope because there’s somebody who gives hope and that can be trusted at all times. The facilitator shared the gospel with Nqobile who then decided to accept Christ as her saviour and hope for her life. fin.

 

It takes courage to open up

Thabile had courage to confront one of the facilitators that she has sores around her genital parts. She watched the STI video in silence. She was consumed with fear as she shared that it’s been going on for quite a while. She asked for advice, as to where she should begin. Thabile was advised to go to the clinic as soon as possible. She also wanted advice on what to do because the person she is involved with had many girlfriends. She was advised to make the decision that she will be able to stand for and never regret. fin.

Zama Mtolo expressed that she is very grateful for the HIV and AIDS information she received from the Change Agents team. Zama lives with her brother who is living with HIV. Zama explained that she did not know how to behave around her brother, but through the HIV and AIDS education she received from the team, she is able to look after him without fear. Zama is so grateful and explains that she will cascade the information to her whole family as they were also very scared.

Dumsani is HIV positive and has a low self esteem. He doesn’t see the need of attending school, and when he does attend school he just stays outside, without attending any classes. When the Change Agents team was at his school, Dumsani was always in class. The teachers were amazed to see him attending as everybody knew that Dumsani doesn’t attend classes. When the facilitators asked him why he doesn’t normally attend classes he said it’s because teachers don’t understand him, but the Change Agents team members do.

Sipho, a grade 9 learner, took part in a HIV and AIDS workshop done by the Change Agents. They watched a STI video on the third day on the program and he realized that some of the symptoms shown on the video he also had. During a break he went to confess to one of the team members and asked him to accompany him to the clinic. After going to the clinic and getting treatment, the nurse referred him to a hospital as his STI was in an advanced stage. The following day he went and got help. He came back to the team and was very thankful and excited that they had come to his school. All along he has been very scared to go on his own to the clinic and he said he will now abstain. fin.