If I kept it to myself - World YWCA

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If I kept it to myself Constance Shumba Young women need to influence policy on HIV and AIDS. The emancipation of young women by strengthening participation in social movements and integrating gender concerns in creating supportive and enabling environments is key to the fight against HIV and AIDS. In 2000, I wrote an essay for the Parliament of Zimbabwe in which I clearly outlined that parliament is not just a ceremonial body but should enact laws that help curb HIV and AIDS. I received a provincial and national award for the best essay on parliament promoting democracy. It was at this stage that I began to realise that I had strong advocacy skills, which could increase my sphere of influence. I joined the YWCA in 1997, at the age of 15, and was immediately trained to become a peer educator on Family Health and HIV and AIDS. I was actively involved in peer education through my local branch Kadoma and was branch President for a while. During that time, I was elected to the National Youth Executive Committee and in this capacity I attended various youth trainings and meetings on HIV and AIDS, which helped me develop my skills and confidence in addressing this topic. Over the years, the YWCA of Zimbabwe has been instrumental in shaping my destiny; my passion for HIV and AIDS work has increased since the time I became a peer educator, and propelled me to pursue a career. I now have a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Promotion from the University of Zimbabwe. The course itself was ideal as it recognised that improvements in family and community practices are effective ways of reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS and dispelling myths surrounding it. It also helped to better equip me on issues surrounding community involvement, community participation and sustainability of HIV and AIDS programmes. During my time at the YWCA, we organised one day peer education workshops for members and 46 youth from the community. I was able to partner with members of Youth Against AIDS, who also joined our workshops. Through the YWCA I joined the Africa Youth Initiative Network (AYINET) and I am currently the chair of the Zimbabwe Chapter. In AYINET, I am involved in advocacy and work with youth from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, raising consciousness through some of the youth and development talks we hold. At AYINET, we are primarily concerned with the issues of social justice, gender and public participation in HIV and AIDS. This makes up part of the strategic plan we are pushing to be included in the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health. Another item on our agenda is to put forward our recommendations on the implementation of a workplace HIV and AIDS policy for the private sector. In October 2003, I joined the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Head Office as an intern for a year in the Health Promotion Unit. During that time, I took part in planning, monitoring and evaluating various programmes. I also participated in preparations for World AIDS Day and the AIDS Week campaign, together with the National AIDS Council, AIDS and TB Unit, and other stakeholders. During my internship, I worked as a member of the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material design team for the World AIDS Campaign. My duties included facilitating HIV and AIDS and TB national workshops for the training of Home Based Care (HBC) counsellors. I was also part of the Red Cross Steering Committee for the National Community and HBC Standards Kit
Young women intervene in a world with AIDS launch, where I successfully suggested the chosen theme “Promoting and enhancing the quality of community and home based care”. My internship with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare provided me with an opportunity to network with other AIDS service organisations. I was able to work with the Zimbabwe Network for People Living with HIV and AIDS (ZNPP+) in their preparation for their biannual conference as a steering committee member and chair of the communications sub committee. I was involved in significant research on HIV and AIDS through the World Health Survey and Provincial Medical Directorate in the Midlands province and the Global Schools Health Survey in Harare. It was while I did research on the reproductive health needs of orphans and vulnerable children in Manicaland and Masvingo province in Zimbabwe that I realised that many children are being left orphaned and in vulnerable circumstances. As I realised the magnitude of the problem of child headed families I was really burdened. Through my church, together with other young women, we mobilised to give provisions to a local orphanage. I, however, felt it was not enough. We needed to do more to help. So, I was ecstatic when the church decided to start an orphanage and took me on the Board of Trustees of Glory to Glory Children’s Home. I became the children’s social welfare officer. I was elated. I am now able to take part in the decision making process, and at the same time, ensure that the needs of the children are met. Presently, the orphanage has ten school children - five girls and five boys. The children were orphaned as a result of HIV and AIDS, and though there are many challenges, it is uplifting to be able to give them more than just smiles and hugs. The situation demands more than just sympathy, it requires action. We need to take a step in faith to bring hope to children who will be the leaders of tomorrow. And like one man said, ‘It is our ethical responsibility to bring the greatest possible amount of happiness to those around us’. In April 2004, I attended the international steering committee meeting for the Development of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (DART), the biggest clinical research ever carried out in Southern Africa. This helped me realise the need to be a treatment supporter in my community. I learnt that providing treatment in hospitals without 47
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