On Saturday helped out with teen club again, but this time it was with the younger (ages 12-14) group. Over 90 kids came!
every kid who comes is HIV positive and has been initiated on the ARV treatment. today's lessons included one on HIV transmissible fluids and ways to prevent trasmission. when Dr. Paul got to the slide listing them and attempted to find an age appropriate and sesotho way to say "vaginal fluids and semen," he stood there for a second, looked at the other leaders, laughed nervously, and eventually moved on without mentioning them. the issue of preserving child innocence and of their "childhood" constantly comes into play. while on one hand they are young and may not be exposed to the issues around sex, they live in a culture where it's not unusual for fifteen year old girls to have newborns and where discussing sex is tabooed, which leaves kids completely naive. the truth is that they do have an illness that can be transmitted in ways that are typically considered too inappropriate to discuss and need to be fully informed. the question is where the line concerning what is necessary for the kids to be educated on and whats not lies.
and, while those on the medications are able to lead regular lives and participate in the same activities their HIV-free friends do, they have a sense of adult responsibility. by agreeing to begin the antiretriviral therapy (ART), they (or their parents) agreed to take on this responsibility for life. when a child gets their first pill bottle, it's exciting in the way that it's their chance at a regular life, but also sad to think that they will have to open this pill bottle every morning when the wake up and every night before they go to sleep. for their entire life.
morning check in/staff meeting
before the meeting starts, kids are free to romp around outside
they would jump over the rope once, crouch down while the rope swung over their heads three more times, jump over it twice, and then jump out
opening circle: ice breakers and get-blood-pumping games
every kid who comes is HIV positive and has been initiated on the ARV treatment. today's lessons included one on HIV transmissible fluids and ways to prevent trasmission. when Dr. Paul got to the slide listing them and attempted to find an age appropriate and sesotho way to say "vaginal fluids and semen," he stood there for a second, looked at the other leaders, laughed nervously, and eventually moved on without mentioning them. the issue of preserving child innocence and of their "childhood" constantly comes into play. while on one hand they are young and may not be exposed to the issues around sex, they live in a culture where it's not unusual for fifteen year old girls to have newborns and where discussing sex is tabooed, which leaves kids completely naive. the truth is that they do have an illness that can be transmitted in ways that are typically considered too inappropriate to discuss and need to be fully informed. the question is where the line concerning what is necessary for the kids to be educated on and whats not lies.
and, while those on the medications are able to lead regular lives and participate in the same activities their HIV-free friends do, they have a sense of adult responsibility. by agreeing to begin the antiretriviral therapy (ART), they (or their parents) agreed to take on this responsibility for life. when a child gets their first pill bottle, it's exciting in the way that it's their chance at a regular life, but also sad to think that they will have to open this pill bottle every morning when the wake up and every night before they go to sleep. for their entire life.
morning check in/staff meeting
before the meeting starts, kids are free to romp around outside
they would jump over the rope once, crouch down while the rope swung over their heads three more times, jump over it twice, and then jump out
opening circle: ice breakers and get-blood-pumping games
lesson on the importance of keeping up with their medications
Dr. Paul explaining the types of protection doctors use
closing circle, review over the day's lessons and final team building exercises
video of closing circle
every child is HIV positive.
team leaders celina and lerato
universal funny face.throughout the meeting, we got to know the staff, most of them are in their mid-twenties and regularly come to the meetings to build relationships with the kids
and on a completely unconnected note, our washer made a nice knot of my clothes. the filter's also broken, so instead of cleaning our clothes, it just tends to redistribute the dirt, so the previously stained clothes become clean and the previously clean clothes come out stained.
i think i may try hand washing next week.
i think i may try hand washing next week.
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