• CYPAfrica:
• A Positive Voice from Young People on the Fight against HIV/AIDS

A Positive Voice from Young People on the Fight against HIV/AIDS

28 July 2008

A recent placement visit by Commonwealth Youth Programme Regional Centre for Africa (CYP RCA) to various schools in the central province –Zambia, revealed a strong spirit in the fight against HIV/AIDS by young people.

These schools receive HIV/AIDS education from the Young Ambassadors for Positive Living (YAPL), under the partnership between CYP Africa centre and Students Partnership World-wide (SPW Zambia).

The YAPLs admitted that, it is not an easy job to do, but working together and with time they are going to make it. “When it comes to behavior change, I must admit that it is not easy; but what YAPLs do is to make the pupils know the facts about this disease, emphasizing more on the possibility of having an HIV free society. We give them the reality about the disease, because we know that behavior change should start within an individual; and this is very much possible” says Mwanga Enurous, a YAPL at Lukanda basic school in Kapiri.

Answering the question on whether the teachers can do exactly what the YAPLs are doing in schools, the Deputy Head Teacher in Kapiri Basic School said that it is possible but he thinks the results won’t be the same. He said that the use of young people to teach their fellows makes this programme unique and that the pupils feel free to talk to the YAPLs more than their teachers. This also helps adults to change their behavior as they see the concern from the young people and they know that they are not doing this for money.

Speaking about her experience, Mable Mufwaya, a YAPL living with HIV says it is a relief to her to share her status with people. She says she faces a lot of challenges including some pupils laughing at her. “I use the opportunity to tell them my experience; I want them to understand that it is possible to fight AIDS. I also insist on and actively promote abstinence.” She says.

Mrs. Njovu; Acting Deputy Head at Kalilwe Basic School, appreciated the programme and added that her school has benefited much as the number of pregnancies has remarkably gone down and there is change of behaviors among pupils and teachers as well. She said that, the counseling unit in the school is now receiving a large number of pupils contrary to what it used to be before the YAPL programme.

Moreover, she said that it is really important to have HIV/AIDS education in schools as the children need the knowledge taking note that some are orphans thus they lack parental care and people to tell them about the disease. Moreover, others are living with relatives who infected with HIV/AIDS therefore the knowledge helps them to take care of the patients at home.

She added that the fact that young people are doing this, is really impressing and it makes a difference to the society.

CYP was able to talk to Mr. Clemence, a teacher at Kalilwe basic school who is HIV+. He was tested HIV+ in 2004 after a long period of illness. He then decided to reveal his status. At that time, people had very little knowledge on HIV/AIDS; he experienced a serious stigma from relatives and the people in the community. He took this as a positive challenge and directed his strength in educating the people including his pupils about the disease. It was not easy but later other teachers and people in the community joined him. Together they formed an association for people living with HIV/AIDS where he is now working as a District National Coordinator.

Mr. Clemence and other members in the association go around schools to educate pupils and teachers.

He thinks the YAPL programme is good as it helps Pupils to know the reality about the disease. ‘Let them be educated so that they become responsible for their actions. They shouldn’t say that they didn’t know’ he says.