HIV/AIDS Outreach as a PCV in SED/IT

At first look, it would seem that helping to develop jobs and the economy in Mariakani, Coast Province would not lend itself to the fight against the increased incidence of HIV/AIDS in my community. And yet, HIV/AIDS outreach is a part of my primary project as well as several of the smaller efforts in my community.

I am assigned to LifeWorks Shukrani. Our mission is to make things and build people up for safer lives. The things we make are table top items and fashion accessories. We build people up by providing employment, education and life skills to make better choices. Mariakani has a higher than normal incidence rate for HIV/AIDS. We are a trucker community right at the first weighbridge out of the Mombasa port. Trading sex for food and money to buy food is a routine activity here. By providing jobs (we now have 32 people gainfully employed) we break the cycle of poverty that results in acts of desperation by women and older orphans to feed their families.

An integral part of our orientation program for new hires is a two hour segment on HIV/AID that takes an interactive approach to information sharing. The group is broken into teams of 2 - 4 people and they are given 5 -10 minutes to write down everything they know about HIV/AIDS and at least two questions on what they want to know. It is interesting to watch the groups cross share. I only have to act as a "color commentator" or be consulted to clarify information put forth by the teams. Their questions spur good group discussion. It limits the need for me to be the only subject matter expert in the room. My ending question is not about what they know, but about how they can incorporate the information into their personal behaviors and then lead a discussion on the difficulty level of implementation and how to overcome barriers they might face.

Additionally, I have been working with the Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Cluster Leadership. There are over 6,000 orphans in our sub-district and many more that come from single parent homes as a result of AIDS. The cluster has been very effective in providing educational opportunities, nutrition programs and home support to this very needy group. Their programs are similar to HeadStart programs in America. Almost all the outreach is a result of the churches, mosques and other religious groups coming together to tackle the devastation to our children as a result of the HIV/AIDS. Making sure that in every service provided by the group, the children are receiving good information that is age appropriate. The leaders act as role models; blend in education on gender roles, alcohol abuse and other issues that effect our community.

Since HIV/AIDS affects all of us, I often ask groups I work with if they understand the implication for our community of our prevalence rate. It is always shocking to them to learn that as many as 2 out of ten people in the room are probably HIV positive. Talking about how that effects the person, their families and the economic development of our community is a powerful way to get them thinking about what role they can play in fostering personal responsibility.

HIV/AIDS is a part of life in Kenya, lowering the number of new infections and coping with the results of "life with AIDS" must be a part of every ones role, even a PC SED/IT Volunteer.

December 2007

Well, last month certainly had its ups and downs. The family I stayed with in Kitui brought me a live rooster all the way to Mombasa for me to cook. After carrying it around town all day (yes, I carried it to some meetings and did some fabric shopping for the factory) the chicken and I took a matatu back to Mariakani. I have absolutely no where to keep a chicken and I definitely was not going to slaughter it and eat it, so I took it to one of the families that have befriended me and me them. They are very poor. Mama Shiru is a very bright, industrious lady. Most people would have killed it and eaten that night, not her. She decided it was too good a rooster to eat (nice and healthy from up country) and she went in search the next day for some chicken wire to pen it in. Then, she went on a quest to see if some relative or friend might have a hen. I caught up with her a couple of days later and she told me she wants a hen so she can have eggs to feed her three little girls. Well, I just had to buy her a hen. She was so excited.

It must be my month for animals and such. I had my first run in with a poisonous snake - gratefully it was already dead. Its’ belly was still swollen from some rats it ate. What I did not know is that it has been seen around the factory for a few days - a puff adder kind of thing about 4 feet long. The guard at the gate finally saw it in the open and banged it on the head with a rock.........he, of course, left it by the gate as a sign of his bravery and to remind us all, snakes are out there.....

We had a major flood at the factory. I have been unsuccessful in getting the original contractors back to fix the faulty plumbing and the whole thing finally let loose like a breaking dam. I got to work early that morning (go figure) and Thabu did as well. She speaks no English. Together, we had an exhausting time trying to find out how to shut off the water (we never did) and stem the tide of rushing water from the flexible pipes that broke. We were soaked and ankle deep in water. By the time the rest of the work team started arriving, we had moved to the clean up stage and were trying to minimize the damage to inventory. It took a half day to dry the place out and put everything back where it belongs. It was quite a 3 ring circus for a little while!

It has been great to watch the unfolding economic prosperity of our employees. First new clothes, then new hairdos, stories about their families not going hungry at night, about being able to buy school uniforms for their children, etc. I have even watched some of our employees begin to pick up some weight and get healthy looking. But, the biggest sign has been the purchase of mobile phones! 4 months ago, only two had mobile phones, now everyone does! Another great sign is that they have started their own merry go rounds! The weavers have divided into two groups and the others are planning to start one in January.

I got the most wonderful letter from my oldest son last week. It made me cry. He is a little worried about me because I have allowed him and a few others to shoulder my intermittent feelings despair and isolation. He reminded me not to get so busy that I forget to take satisfaction in what I am facilitating in the lives of others. It is easy to lose sight of what has been accomplished when I spend too much time looking at the overwhelming needs in the Mariakani community. Mike, just so you know I could come home tomorrow and know that I have made a difference in at least 42 lives. Thanks for the reminder.

And, some of you are helping me make a difference in the lives of the young girls living at the Mariakani Girls Rescue Center. These young girls, ages 4 -17, have been rescued from physical abuse, sexual abuse, forced early marriages or abandonment. They stay for as long as they need to, some just a few months and others for two or more years. Since my first visit, I have been wondering how to assist them. I met with the woman who has donated the land and house the shelter sits on. All she asked for was help in getting beds so all the girls had a bed to sleep in and maybe a little something for Christmas. Several of you have donated or promised to donate funds, and I have ordered 8 beds to be built and ordered 8 mattresses. I am going shopping for bed linens and the extra will go towards personal hygiene items and school supplies for the girls.

If enough funds come in, (My personal goals is 12, 000 USD) I will apply them to helping the orphans and vulnerable children in Mariakani. They have many needs and I am trying to coordinate with the leadership to prioritize any capital improvements to the early childhood learning centers. They run day care and pre-kindergarten classes for the children. I am working with some wholesalers in the sub-district trying to organize a donation program so each child can have a cup of porridge every day. For some it will be their only regular meal each day.

My travel plans for the holidays have shifted so many times; even today I do not know what I am going to do. I had hoped to go home, not happening. I had hoped to travel the country, not happening. The Peace Corps is on lock down for the week of the Kenyan elections. Only limited travel outside your province and absolutely no travel from the 26th to the 29th. Ugh!

Heather, the new PCV who will be doing sales and marketing, arrived yesterday evening and we have been busy getting her settled. Yesterday was also World HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. There was a big gathering at the Army barracks outside of town to educate, celebrate the small successes and dream of the day this epidemic gets under control. All the District and community leadership were there and LifeWorks was recognized as one of the successes – reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence by attacking one of the root causes – poverty. Kind of sweet. I am now known as Mama LifeWorks……..

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! My deepest appreciation goes to all those helping me with the donated funds, personal cards, letters, and care packages. You make it much easier for me to be here; knowing you care about me and the Mariakani community. God bless you.