First days of the HIV/AIDS program

After a couple of days of orientation and getting to know the other volunteers starting at the same time as us, Thursday was the first day with the Tumaini community HIV/AIDS program. The program was started by Sophia Balongo who is the head mistress of the Ngando primary school in Lenana. In 2004 Sophia noticed that some of the parents from the school were becoming sick and dieing from what seemed to be HIV/AIDS like symptoms and so in order to help those in need, assists the members of the program (all currently women) so they can earn a little money and support themselves. This is basically done through making and selling beaded jewelry, these are generally sold overseas by other volunteers as they can fetch a much higher price and hence get more money for the program. One of the volunteers also helped the group get a license to sell charcoal, so they buy large sacks of charcoal, and then break it up into smaller bags and sell it to people within the slums. Most of the cooking is done inside the small shacks with either charcoal of kerosene both is toxic for the lungs and respiratory issues are very common.
The work we will generally be doing is broken out by the days of the week, some days we do home visits where we walk around and visit the ladies in their homes and see how they are living and if they need anything. Other days are Material Making, where they ladies come and make the necklaces and bracelets in a room near the school, or group and individual counseling. On Monday afternoons we also teach a class in the school for Guidance and Counseling. During the class we are suppose to help the kids understand the dangers of sex and HIV, but we’re not supposed to discuss condoms, as they believe it would encourage the kids to have sex.

More photos after the break