If I kept it to myself - World YWCA

If I kept it to myself
I am also a member of the YWCA of Namibia.
Since July 2004, I have been facilitating
workshops twice a week at different high
schools. In these workshops we discuss how
we can prevent HIV and AIDS infection, improve
communication between young people and
their parents, and improve our lives. The young
people who attend our workshops gain skills and
knowledge to educate others, and learn how to
give back to the community. At the end of the
workshop, everyone develops a positive attitude
towards family life education, sharing knowledge
on sex, sexuality and reproductive health issues,
and on HIV and AIDS issues.
I also work with the Council of Churches
in Namibia (CCN) to combat stigma and
discrimination in our churches and to mobilise
young people to use the Voluntary Counselling
and Testing (VCT) centres to know their status.
With the CCN, we educate pastors on issues
of HIV and AIDS and encourage them to talk
openly about it with their congregation. Churches
need to get involved by supporting people who
are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
In Namibia, there have been some churches
that prohibit their members from starting antiretroviral
treatment. We tell them that medication
is needed; they have to allow people to go for
treatment. People must be encouraged not to
judge people who are HIV positive, instead
we must give them hope. The Church has a
responsibility and an important role to play in
HIV and AIDS. Good morals and a change in
behaviour are needed among young people in
Namibia to curb the spread of HIV.
Since high school I have been committed to
fighting against ignorance surrounding HIV and
AIDS in Namibia. I have upheld my sister’s
wish for my life by becoming active in my
community.
To become an effective volunteer, I went through
basic computer literacy, counselling and peer
education at the YWCA and other centres. This
training has equipped me for the activities I
am currently involved in: designing the layout
of Open Talk newspaper, responding to letters
from young people countrywide regarding their
problems, and facilitating peer counselling in
schools.
30
Born: 1985
Country: Namibia
Organisations: YWCA, National
Youth Council, National Council
of Churches of Namibia
Campaigns for: an end to
stigma and discrimination
against PLWHA; HIV and AIDS
education among young people