Candlelight Vigil and Simunye Peer Educators

Since being back at VVOCF, Olivia and I have been spending most of our time preparing for and carrying out the peer educator program.  What we’re doing is training a group of about 10 of the older youth who attend the centre to be HIV/AIDS peer educators in the community.  We had an application and interview process to help them get experience in applying for jobs and for the past weeks we’ve been meeting twice a week and doing activities and training with them.  They have chosen the name “Simunye Peer Educators”. Simunye means “we are together”.  Our goal is to prepare and train them to lead workshops for their peers about HIV/AIDS.  We are also addressing other topics such as gender equality, human rights, English proficiency and basic financial literacy.  It’s been really interesting and challenging as well.  We look forward to continuing this in January when the centre reopens.  (Most of) the group is pictured below.

On December 1 we had a candlelight vigil for World AIDS Day.  The kids prepared for two days, practicing songs and chants which they sung as we marched around the township for 2 ½ hours that evening.  It was a really special experience and I can’t think of a better way to commemorate World AIDS Day than with children who are most directly affected by HIV/AIDS. 

Olivia has started the research project she and her professor and a few others will be working.  It is to look at the adherence to HIV treatment among the HIV positive children who attend the centre.  Olivia has been surveying and interviewing the children; I go along as well as one or two of the staff members to translate.  It’s a very humbling experience to realize how much these kids have to deal with and under what circumstances they live yet they are always so happy and joyful when we are there with them. 

We had a big party Friday for the last centre day before the holidays.  Had music and dancing and fried chicken.  We’re off now to Zambia and Malawi for three weeks to meet up with our friend Colleen who’s been serving at the Banani School in Zambia and travel around. 

Simunye Peer Educators