VP4- Ilkiding’a

During our first weekly meeting, all of the American volunteers and Tanzanian teaching partners were asked to reflect and discuss the reasons we had chosen to participate in this program. Many mentioned that they wanted to step out of their comfort zone and take part in an unforgettable experience. Others discussed their longing to belong to a group that was sure to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of people. Oddly enough, this was something that I was already asking myself only a couple of nights before as I lay in bed in the village. After orientation in Arusha, we were all pumped to arrive at our homestays, to meet the people in our village, and to start our HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. However, after a couple of meetings with the administration and faculty of the secondary school and with the village leaders, we realized our work was going to be a lot more intensive than we had anticipated. The strong religious and cultural customs in the Ilkiding’a ward have contributed to a widespread ignorance of the HIV virus. This misinformation had led to a strong stigma surrounding the virus and syndrome that not only makes it very difficult for a person living with the HIV virus, but also discourages people from being tested. This is why HIV/AIDS is still a prevalent issue in rural Tanzania. This is why individuals are still being infected with the virus and are not protecting themselves nor their loved ones. And this is why Support for International Change exists. Ove...
Source: Support for International Change : HIV AIDS - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news