I had the pleasure of seeing Mama Kay daily, sometimes she was one of the first people we encountered due to our daily visits to her resturant for chapati and chai. She would always greet us as if she hadn’t seen us in years and would welcome us with open arms. Though stigma is a huge challenge in Mamire, over the years, Mama K has combated this barrier. When people first learned or her HIV status, few came to her resturant. Now there isn’t an hour in the day where a person isn’t enjoying her amazing food and chai, a testiment to her success in overcoming stigma. While this alone makes her a strong and admirable person, she also is a CHW (community health worker) in Mamire Center, a job that requires a person with a huge heart and compassion, and strength to face the reality of HIV. Day in and day out, as a CHW, Mama Kay visits those living with HIV. In Mamire Center there are patients in the early stages of HIV who are up and about, living a proactive life, and others facing their last days, almost overcome by the virus. In the time we were in Mamire Center, two patients were taken by this terrible disease, a harsh reality to swallow, and every time Mama Kay was the first to witness the outcome, yet she never showed sign of self pitty or fear, but there isn’t a way she couldn’t have linked her future outcome to what was before her. While Mama K could have easily stopped her daily activies to ponder the reality of HIV, instead she takes volunteers and teaching partners on patient visits, leads the support group, and is a mother and grandmother to the most beautiful children in Tanzania! For this, Mama Kay is one of the strongest people I know.

She was the first to propose the kuku project when we asked how we could help the patients of Mamire ward. She told us the reason for the deaths of the patients were due to stigma, stigma place by family who neglected to care for the patients who otherwise could have sought help. With the extra funding from the project, patients wouldn’t have to rely on the stigmatizing family members who won’t even lend them 1,000 shillingi (equivalent to 75 cents) to take a bus to the district hospital to receive ARVs or to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, essential ingredients to maintain a healthy immune system. Yet daily, Mama Kay watches people stigmatize those living with HIV, something that would have to be heart wrenching, but she continues to carry on in her same positive manner, doing all she can with the cards dealt to her. While you could think that Mam Kay has forgotten about the fate of the virus infecting her, on our last night in Mamire, as she gave a speech thanking our efforts and all we had done in Mamire, she invited us back to visit her family and friends, saying that she would probably not be around. This is the reality of HIV. And while many times we avoided thinking about Mama Kay’s fate, that night hit us head on.

When I come to Tanzania to work with SIC, I come so that people can see the reality of this disease so that they won’t face the fate of many. When we  started the kuku project, we had patients like Mama K in mind. So I ask that you hear the story of this incredible mama and take it to heart. I invite you to be apart of this fight against HIV by simply being aware and seeing the reality of this disease, something that breaks my heart. As we say in SIC, “Tuko Pamoja Kuushinda UKIMWI” (we are here together to combate AIDS) not as a problem of Africa, but as a problem that affects people worldwide, something that needs all hands in order to overcome.

While support groups do offer some basic emotional and instrumental aid for people living with HIV, often times these monthly meetings are not enough. We have found that our presence in Mamire may be an opportunity to bring a more tangible sense of stability, support and empowerment to these people. My fellow coordinators and I have spent the last few weeks researching the building of a communal chicken coop for this HIV-positive support group. Similar “Kuku Projects” (kuku means chicken in Swahili) in the past have proven to be an extremely effective way of providing financial aid and a sustainable source of protein-rich food for people living with HIV. Kuku Projects have also done wonders in reducing the debilitating effects of stigma in rural villages.

In order to realize our goal of building a sustainable chicken coop, we have set a fundraising goal of $2000. Any donation would be incredibly meaningful in turning our dream into a reality. Donations instructions have been included at the bottom of this email. Thank you for your time, generosity, and continuous support!

HOW YOU CAN DONATE Support for International Change is a non-profit, non–governmental organization. This emans donations directly to the organization are tax-deductible, as SIC is a 501©(3) organization. Donations of any amount would be greatly appreciated. You can sponsor our effort by following this link: www.sichange.org/test/get-involved/donate. Then click on “Donate online” near the bottom of the pate. Under designation, please write “VP2 Kuku Project”. You will receive a receipt for the donation well before the end of the fiscal year.

Please let us know if you would like any more information about the project, or would like to receive updates in the future about the success of our Kuku project!

In many of the villages around the Babati district are HIV positive support groups. Within these groups, several people were selected to be trained and to lead a small group within the support group. As a Peer Leader, each person went through a training where they learned the SIC curriculum backwards and forward so that they can teach their group about HIV education, while also providing emotional support, and helping those who are at the stage of AIDS adhere to their medication. The reason I was asked to attend this celebration was to meet Veronica (on her request), a young women living in Gallapo Town, recently diagnosed with HIV.

As I entered the room to take part in this celebration, I was greeted by 41 smiling faces, all of various ages, ranging from age 10 to much older, but with a common goal to live life to the fullest despite their HIV status. As I looked around the room, I recognized faces from Gallapo, yet couldn’t find Veronica. I was a little nervous for our encounter, unsure if I would know who she was and curious to hear her story. Before I could think too far into the situation, Waziri, the Field Officer and Peer Leader Trainer, introduced me to the group and invited Veronica to the front to share her story.

From the third row to the front stood a beautiful young woman, dressed in the traditional Tanzanian congas, and wearing white sneakers. She smiled as she approached me and reached out her arm in greeting, and she began to tell the following story: Last summer as the Gallapo crew went around the town promoting our free testing day yelling the familiar “Upimaji wa VVU, Bure, Siri, na haraka” we were interrupted by screaming in a nearby duka (store). The screaming came from Veronica. She yelled that America brought HIV and that we should all return home. She giggled as she explained her reaction, but somehow Veronica decided to get the HIV test where unfortunately she found she was HIV positive. As she looked me in the eyes and apologized for her reaction and “rude comments”, I couldn’t believe the transformation she had made in less than a year. Not only had her life been turned around 180 degrees, but now she was making a positive impact not only for herself, but for those around her.

This is why I am back in Tanzania; for one person, one person like Veronica who was able to find change in their life, to see HIV as a reality, and to find the inner motivation to combat this disease and to protect others by being open about their status. Looking around the room at the Peer Leaders, it blew my mind how joyous and healthy they all looked, despite the misconception that HIV positive patients are sad and sickly. They all sang together, danced, and rejoiced as each received their diploma. It was such an amazing and encouraging site to encounter. As I left the celebration I was able to see the reality of HIV, yet the strong community it can bring. I walked out encouraged by this group and ready to work my hardest in Mamire. Stories such as Veronica’s shows that it’s not a matter of the number of people you reach, but just one individual can carry the joy and celebration as a thousand.

 As we drove through each village, we were greeted by the smoke from the kitchens of mamas preparing lunch, and many saw women washing clothes in the stream. This life was so unfamiliar to what everyone has known, yet it didn’t take long for people to adjust. Yes, it has been a challenge not having electricity and using water resourcefully (the nearest water pump is a good walk from our house), but the community has been extremely welcoming and helpful in everyway possible. We have been in Mamire for a little over a week and a half, and the volunteers and teaching partners are already off to a great start. Our first testing day is this Friday, and all groups have already begun teaching in the schools!

After dropping off the volunteers to the various villages and returning to our homestay in Mamire town, as coordinators, we discussed the roles we would have in the village and what we wanted the program to look like. Our first priority to take care of the volunteers and teaching partners and to make sure we can provide any care and need while encouraging them through every task they complete. By doing so, our goal is to visit each village at least once a week, meaning that we may walk up to 2 hours each way to visit a village, or in our case, will take a cattle cart part way when we need a break (true story). We have also been caring for volunteers who have gotten sick, have held weekly meetings at the office, and finishing any loose end work that needs to be completed. Recently, we have also taken up a new project with the Mamire HIV positive support group. Seeing that we had a little extra time on our hands, we have met with one of the homestay mamas and other leaders of the support group to see how we could best help them in the upcoming months. They all agreed that stigma was a huge barrier in the community, but knew that the education the volunteers provided would help combat the misconceptions of the community. They also talked about starting a kuku (chicken) project that would provide an extra income to the patients so that they could buy vegetables and fruit, pay for transportation fees, and other necessities they are unable to afford. As of now, we are in the works or launching this project so that we can give as much as we can in the little time we have in Mamire. I will keep you updated on the progress of the project and will provide more details when they are available. Thank you again for all of your support!

I’ve been really enjoying the this new experience of coordinating and being able to see and learn from SIC on the other side. I’ve been able to learn from the staff, to hear about their thoughts on the volunteer program, and  to hear the strengths and weaknesses of each program. This program is off to a great start with a great team to work with (both staff and volunteers) and I’m excited to move into Mamire ward. Yesterday we were able to visit all the villages and to meet with all the homestays. Despite my love for Gallapo ward, Mamire has a different feel; very welcoming (though Gallapo was very welcoming as well), much more rural (none of the homestays have electricity), and so beautiful! We didn’t meet a mama that wasn’t loving and welcoming, and the village is excited to finally have an awareness program in Mamire. We leave for the villages on July 4, so until then, we are still forming teaching groups and assigning homestays and teaching all we can until the let the volunteers and teaching partners loose in the villages. Tutaonana until next time!

Within the same day that I arrived to Arusha, our job as coordinator began. We picked up our first volunteer from Dar es Saalm, and introduced her to Arusha. Since then, we have been busy picking up volunteers and helping them get settled into this new place, putting together packets for the volunteers, discussing with Dan the next steps we are to take, while also thinking of ways to united our volunteers. From here on out, Becky and I will be constantly on our toes, welcoming our 27 volunteers, along with 14 Tanzanian teaching partners, familiarizing ourselves with Mamire, the village we will work in, preparing for orientation, while also welcoming our volunteers and helping them feel as welcomed as possible. I’m excited to work with the Babati staff again, especially Dan as he was an excellent VPM during my program, with Becky, who has been great thus far, and all the volunteers. I hope this time to be better at keeping up this blog, but please e-mail me, ask questions and update me on life at home! It’s always great hearing from everyone, as I miss you all very much! Tomorrow will be a busy day for us, as we will welcome the remaining 19 volunteers, and will be preparing for the introduction of the program, but the waterfall hike at the base of Mt. Meru is here to come, and a new beginning to VP2!

As I get ready to learn more about the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and to help in whatever way possible, I am reminded by a poem my class read on the first day of our HIV/AIDS in Africa class. The poem was written by a young man living with AIDS in South Africa, having an optimism to rise above the barriers and challenges of HIV, while embracing the reality of this infectious disease. He is able to openly talk about his status, and to be an encouragement to all that are living with HIV/AIDS. As we leave for Tanzania, this poem acts as a reminder of the difficulties and challenges many face living with HIV/AIDS, while demonstrating the urgency for prevention. As we go, I pray that SIC is able to encourage people to take these matters into their own hands, to decrease the stigma and myths associated with HIV, and to really love the people in Tanzania. With this said, here is the poem:

When I Rise

By Mthuthuzeli Isaac Skosana

Higher and higher I will

Higher above the sky I will

Above the sky

When I rise

The troubles shall remain

The pains shall be healed

When I rise

I shall fly above

Reaching for the sky I will

My wings I shall spread

Yah, I will rise

Behind I shall leave

All the symptoms

All the opportunistic infections

Shall remain

When I rise

I will conquer the infection

I will conquer the syndrome

I will conquer the stigma

I will conquer the discrimination

When I rise

I will take the podium

I will address the nation

I will defuse fear

When I rise

I will unite families

I will strengthen the weak

When I rise

I shall defeat HIV

I shall defeat AIDS

I shall defeat anger

When I rise

Yes when I rise I shall smile

Oh, when I rise

Often times I feel like another person getting caught in the hype and trendiness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, promoting disease awareness but not making a significant impact in the long run, but then I’m encouraged by intelligent people such as Dr. Jake, an awesome Arizona State professor who trained VP3 volunteers last summer. In an interview about his work with HIV he was quoted saying:

“The reality is we are loosing a whole generation of productive young Africans to this disease, and I hate that. I hate it because of what it is doing to a beautiful continent and a beautiful people, and I hate it because it can be prevented. In some ways I feel like this is a holocaust and that I can’t sit by idly and let this happen. And so the fight for me is a fight for Africa. At home, for me it is a fight against complacency. No one else should be infected with HIV.”

With this in mind, this summer is not to teach about what HIV is, but to encourage the community to take matters into their own hands; to eliminate the stigma associated with HIV, the myths believed by many, and for the community to come together to not only protect themselves, but to see those living with HIV as people, people in their community. While the role I will be playing this summer is dramatically different from last, being on the sideline cheering on volunteers instead of actively teaching day in and day out, I’m already excited for all of the new volunteers. As my fellow coordinator and I answer the frantic questions from our volunteers, we can see the excitement, anxiousness, and determination in all of these volunteers.  There are so many great things for this summer, and I pray that God works through each person, making this not a time that the wazungus come in to teach the Africans, but a time for everyone come together as one community and to realize that this is a preventable disease, and that it can be overcome.  As Dr. Jake would say, “the fight for me is a fight for Africa…” and upon my return home in August, I hope I can report just this.