On April 6, IDEX Program Officer, Kat and Vini visited PWN support group members and got a sense of life in the townships of Johannesburg.
40 minutes away, we visit another township called Kwathema. There are currently 60 support group members in Kwathema and we’re meeting the Outreach Coordinator, Gladys Nikelo. Gladys has been part of Positive Women's Network (PWN) since 2003. When we arrived, Gladys was organizing a discussion form with the church youth group of Kwathema to start the conversation on the current HIV reality among youth in the townships. There were about 20 young men and women between the ages of 15 and 21.
Encouraged by the lively conversation and interest the youth were showing about HIV/AIDS, Prudence started facilitating the conversation to focus on what relationships are like among youth today and what they thought about it. Conversations went from "What do you think about guys having multiple girlfriends?" to "What do you think about the families having children on purpose to get social grants?" (Parents who have children are eligible to get a social grant for each child until they turn 18) or "How much did they know about HIV and are they aware enough to know how to prevent themselves from getting it?"
The youth all jumped to share their opinions and one young woman even asked if a female condom existed. It just so happened that Prudence had a sample in her bag and gave the youth group an impromptu workshop on how to use it. It was amazing to see Prudence clearly instructing the youth step-by-step how to use the female condom.
After the youth group left, I had a chance to talk to Gladys, as well as Kate, the Outreach Coordinator from Tsakane to see how their lives has improved since being part of PWN.
Gladys is 25 years old and she found out she was HIV-positive when she was 15. She tried to find a support system but was unsuccessful. When she was 19, she saw Prudence on a television show. Gladys and was amazed how confident Prudence was even though she was HIV-positive. Gladys went on a mission to find Prudence and when she did, immediately became a support group member of PWN. In 2008, after seeing her active participation, Prudence asked Gladys to become an Outreach Coordinator.
I asked Gladys what she thought of PWN and she responded, "Because of PWN, I'm a strong person and with my strength I hope to lead other women who are HIV-positive to be strong as well."
40 minutes away, we visit another township called Kwathema. There are currently 60 support group members in Kwathema and we’re meeting the Outreach Coordinator, Gladys Nikelo. Gladys has been part of Positive Women's Network (PWN) since 2003. When we arrived, Gladys was organizing a discussion form with the church youth group of Kwathema to start the conversation on the current HIV reality among youth in the townships. There were about 20 young men and women between the ages of 15 and 21.Encouraged by the lively conversation and interest the youth were showing about HIV/AIDS, Prudence started facilitating the conversation to focus on what relationships are like among youth today and what they thought about it. Conversations went from "What do you think about guys having multiple girlfriends?" to "What do you think about the families having children on purpose to get social grants?" (Parents who have children are eligible to get a social grant for each child until they turn 18) or "How much did they know about HIV and are they aware enough to know how to prevent themselves from getting it?"
The youth all jumped to share their opinions and one young woman even asked if a female condom existed. It just so happened that Prudence had a sample in her bag and gave the youth group an impromptu workshop on how to use it. It was amazing to see Prudence clearly instructing the youth step-by-step how to use the female condom.After the youth group left, I had a chance to talk to Gladys, as well as Kate, the Outreach Coordinator from Tsakane to see how their lives has improved since being part of PWN.
Gladys is 25 years old and she found out she was HIV-positive when she was 15. She tried to find a support system but was unsuccessful. When she was 19, she saw Prudence on a television show. Gladys and was amazed how confident Prudence was even though she was HIV-positive. Gladys went on a mission to find Prudence and when she did, immediately became a support group member of PWN. In 2008, after seeing her active participation, Prudence asked Gladys to become an Outreach Coordinator.
I asked Gladys what she thought of PWN and she responded, "Because of PWN, I'm a strong person and with my strength I hope to lead other women who are HIV-positive to be strong as well."
Labels: HIV/AIDS, PWN, South Africa
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