Getting to Zero

World AIDS day takes place each year on December 1st. I was pretty bummed out when I discovered my org already had two fundraisers planned on December 1st. So, I was not able to plan an event with them to help get the word out about HIV/AIDS. The theme for 2012 was: Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections. Zero deaths from AIDS-related illness. Zero discrimination. Currently, 33.4 million people are living with HIV/AIDS; 5.6 million live in South Africa. More than 25 million people have died of AIDS worldwide since the first cases were reported in 1981.

Since, my org was not able to do anything, I was invited to go with Natalie and some individuals from her work to a step down care facility about 30 minutes outside of Empangeni. Almost all of the patients had HIV, AIDS, or TB. We took each patient a care pack with lotions and other toiletries, fruit, and juices. After we handed out all of the packs, most of the individuals left but Natalie, a few of her co-workers and myself. We stayed for about another hour and a half just talking with the female patients. We took extra lotion and we’re able to rub lotion on their hands and feet and just let them be pampered for a bit. It was really nice to get to chitchat with some of these ladies and I really enjoyed myself. I wont lie some of it was very hard to see and to be surround by so much suffering was not easy, but it was also very rewarding. I hope that we were able to give these ladies a little bit of peace during our visit. Nats and I plan to go back this weekend and visit with them again.

Grassroots Soccer- Take One

I have mentioned a few times the Grassroots Soccer Program. I never imagined that this program would have such a positive impact on my service and I have only done part of an intervention. To catch you all up this program is an "HIV prevention program that uses the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize communities to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS." "GRS delivers an interactive HIV prevention and life skills curriculum to youth, providing them with the knowledge, skills and support needed to live healthier lives." I have been completely blown away by the development of this program. It is unbelievable and being a part of it has been incredible. Now I will admit, there have been several up and downs. I wanted to write the post about my first intervention when I was finished with it. But, due to several factors I wont finish until January when school starts again. We had planned our first intervention (11 practices) to finish by November 30th. With the rain and the learners writing (taking) exams, practices kept getting pushed back and here we are. I plan to finish the first intervention when school starts back up but I will loose several kids who moved into secondary school. One might wonder why the rain would affect us teaching a practice. Well, unfortunately, it not only impacts my program, but also everyday school. Approximately 40% of the students who attend Nkosazana Primary School live on the other side of the uMhlatuze River. If it rains too much, the river becomes too full and the students cannot safely cross. Everyday these students undress to cross the river. If the child is too young often times their mothers or Gogos will carry them across. There is not walking bridge. I am currently working with the Department of Education to see if we can make a plan to get them a sustainable walking bridge. Keep your fingers crossed.

Here is an example of some of the students and Gogos crossing the river. It gets higher than this depending on the amount of rain.

Anyhow, lets take a look at the good things about this intervention. Jules and Hlengiwe helped run the interventions with me since it is in their community. We successfully finished 7 of the 11 practices. For it being our first time, we had a lot of alterations to make but overall I was very excited about it. We had 25 learners age 9-15. The practice structure normally consists of an ice breaker/energizer, recap of the last practice, MicroMove (small homework assignment) review, Take a Stand (controversial statements used to get the students debating), main activity, coaches story, and finally a cool down (MicroMove, review key messages, and a Skillz Cheer). The highlight of my service came from one of our MicroMove assignments. We had been discussing risky behaviors that could potentially lead to HIV and for their MicroMove we wanted each child to draw a map of their community that included risky and safe places. To be honest, I didn't have a lot of faith that it would get done and if it did, not many students would do it. So when the next practice came, I was blown away. When we asked to see their MicroMoves the kids went running to get them, about 75% of them came back with detailed, colored, nicely drawn pictures. Most even included a description of why the place was safe or risky. Also the older learners assisted the young ones with their descriptions. It was a great moment for us "coaches;" to see that they did listen and that they are gaining some knowledge from our efforts.

I have really enjoyed this program and the thought behind it. I think it is a brilliant way to teach HIV/AIDS education to youth. I have contacted a local youth centre and a secondary school to start more programs in the New Year. I can't wait to get them started!

Here the students are avoiding 4 risks that can lead to HIV: sex and alcohol, older partners, sex without a condom, and multiple partners. The first round they were to dribble the ball around all 4 risks trying not to get “HIV”, if they touched a risk they had to do 5 jumping jacks. We discussed the individual consequences of getting HIV. The second round if they touched a risk their whole team had to do 5 jumping jacks. Then we discussed in life who are their “teammates” who will be affected by them getting HIV. The third round if they touched a risk the whole classroom did 5 jumping jacks. It was great to see them cheering each other on and see them becoming more careful when more people would be affected. It shows that HIV does not just affect an individual but a community.

In this activity, the limbo pole represents HIV. The lower the pole got the riskier behavior they were taking. When we started the pole was as tall as they were, this represented abstinence. Towards the end the pole got lower with sex without a condom, older partners, and multiple partners.