|
Youth project cuts HIV rates by a third
Two young journalists from the news agency Children’s Express visit one of Plan’s projects in Kenya to see how young people are fighting against AIDS. 13-year old Ghizlan and 17-year old Ella report…
It’s a familiar scene in some parts of Kenya – a family of 16, without a stable income, looked after by a grandmother who is struggling to feed her orphaned grandchildren.
Too often, children orphaned by AIDS and others who suffer the effects of the AIDS pandemic are portrayed as hopeless victims. What is not shown is their determination, motivation and ability to survive.
18-year old Agnes and her 16-year old sister Anne live in a tiny rural village in central Kenya. Their mother died of AIDS 3 years ago.
At the time the girls’ mother got infected, 6 years ago, 3 in 10 20-45 year olds became HIV positive. Now, this has dropped to 1 in 10.
Youth-run projects
It’s partly thanks to youth-run projects which have been raising awareness - such as Plan’s Juja Farm Futures Youth Group. They have taken matters into their own hands teaching other youths about the dangers of HIV and AIDS. And it’s working. Their chairman, Patrick, explains why:
“We are encouraging youths to talk to other youths. Before, people were saying that HIV is a disease like a common cold, because they didn’t have the facts. But we gave them facts.”
The world is all too familiar with statistics that show Africa to be engulfed by AIDS. What is less well known is the difference that young people are making in their own fight against the disease.
This story was produced by Ella Parry-Davies, 17, and Ghizlan Akerbousse, 13, from Children’s Express, a journalism programme for young people aged 8 to 18. www.childrens-express.org
Related article:
| 