HIV Reflection, Week One

As you already know, I am taking HIV & AIDS: A South African Perspective on Thursdays. We were split into 5 groups and each given a community partner. My group is made of 10 girls from the US, Holland, and Switzerland, and our community partner is a youth outreach center in town. Last week was our first visit with them and the goal of this meeting was introductions and finding out what our goals are for the semester. We will meet with them two more times. The next time will be to discuss our "product:" something we can create to educate the youth on HIV. The final time will be to distribute the items and wrap up our time there. After each visit we are asked to turn in a reflection at the next class meeting. This is the reflection I turned in today. Warning: This subject is a bit heavier and more serious than my usual posts. 

"This week was our first visit to the Youth Outreach Center in Stellenbosch. I was nervous to go because there was a lot I didn't know about the center and I was worried about how accepting and willing the people there would be to speak with us openly. 

We had a lot of questions going in, but I was nervous that the conversation would come to a dead stop and we'd be out of material. However, once we started talking to the women and man that work there we realized we'd have no problem keeping the conversation going. There was so much that we were able to learn from them! We were told about how the center is not a voluntary experience for the youth; they are court-ordered there for 3 to 6 months and afterwards are sent home or to another correctional facility depending on review from the outreach program. The center reminds me a lot of rehabilitation centers at home in America. We don't have centers that house only a few adolescents and children like this one (that I know of), but we have similar programs. There is a school near the high school I attended that is only for teens with behavioral and/or addiction problems, and they are taught in a normal and respectful matter as in this center. Just like the youth here, if the youth at home don't benefit from the school, they are sent to a more secure juvenile detention center. 

We asked about their experience with HIV and how knowledgable the youth are about the virus. They have attempted some education surrounding HIV and safe sex, but the youth still seem ignorant on the matter. For example, they told us that one child at the center had HIV and was bullied; the children wouldn't share a cup or utensils with him because they thought they would "catch" the HIV. From their stories, we realized that we would need to tackle HIV education in two separate ways when it comes to the two genders. In terms of the boys, we will need to educate them about safe sex and general HIV and sex information. The girls, however, will be more in-depth. We've heard stories about girls running away for the center and looking for sex, without thinking twice about the long-term effects. We would like to take a self-respect/worth/empowerment and "loving/protecting your body" approach to educate the girls. The main obstacle we will face is the stigmas and facts the youth think they know about HIV. This experience was eye-opening as to how HIV is thought of and dealt with in South Africa, and we hope that we are able to help spread knowledge. 

Because I haven't seen a center like this one before, I really appreciate the work they do. I'm in awe of the patience and care they show the youth, especially being a non-profit organization. They told us about a few of the struggles they have had to deal with, shocking stories that gave us all a reality check. I think the best word to describe these people is selfless. The mission of the outreach center is truly inspiring, so I'm excited to help them in any way we can."

To put the HIV situation here in perspective... 
-South Africa has the highest number of people infected with HIV in the world.
-Common stigmas about HIV are that they are gay- or black-related. However, women are becoming the leading carriers/spreaders of HIV, and more HIV infections are seen in heterosexual, married citizens.
-Though it is the main cause, HIV is not only spread through unsafe sex-- it is spread through the sharing of needles as well as through blood-blood contact.
-Because healthcare is free, we have heard stories that many people will purposely contract HIV for the healthcare and government benefits. 
-A lot of people will go to a clinic for months for treatment and, upon returning home, will never tell their family the real reason for being gone. This is all due to the stigmas.