Our team name CATSEYE originates from the different thematic areas we are working on. The “C” for Child Protection, “A” for AIDS and HIV awareness, “T” for Target climate change, “S” for Security of food and water, “E” for Encourage youth development, “Y” for Youth Training and “E” for Empower women.
In week three, for the “A”, we decided to have not one but two sensitisation sessions on HIV and AIDS.
On Wednesday, 4 February, the team headed to Lunyangwa Girls Primary School to talk to Standard 5, 6 and 7 pupils about HIV and AIDS. Ways of contracting and preventing the disease along with reducing discrimination of those living with HIV and AIDS were among the things discussed.
Volunteers making the session as interactive as possible for the students by getting them to come up to the front
According to Mrs Kanyinji, a teacher at the school, the girls are motivated when a youthful group teaches them. She said, “They put the information to use compared to when we teach them.”
Edith Bleya, a Standard 7 pupil, said they learnt not to discriminate against people living with HIV and AIDS, for you cannot get infected by playing or sharing the same plate of food with an infected person.
On Thursday so many activities were planned that the group had to divide into groups. Three ICS volunteers went to Chibavi Primary School for another HIV and AIDS session, however it was an AIDS TOTO Club we were presenting to this time. TOTO clubs are in set up in schools and youth groups to educate and empower the youth to respond to HIV and AIDS.
We were welcomed with loud cheers from the club members as soon as we entered the classroom. We exchanged knowledge on HIV and AIDS and added in some Child Protection by encouraging them to report to elders, parents, guardians, teachers or police if they feel they are being mistreated or abused in anyway.
The club was ready and prepared for our visit - they had arranged poems, drama and songs on HIV and AIDS.
Miss Njolwa, the club chair, appreciated the visit and hoped the volunteers planned another session with the club.
It was a great experience as we did not just facilitate but also learnt from them and enjoyed their performances.
Written by ICS volunteer Zamiwe Chisi
