HIV/AIDS Education Project

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I just completed my first major HIV/AIDS Education Project in my village. I worked with two community partners- one of my policlinic nurses (Linda) and the head of the local women's organization (Helga). They were both phenomenal. Though they were my official partners, the 5 week (once a week) educational classes would not have been the success that they were without the group effort of several of my friends and neighbors. I am truly blessed to have such strong, intelligent women in my village.

Left: Helga Right: Linda

So, Linda, Helga and I gave the same class to two different groups of women every Sunday and Monday for four weeks. The majority of the women were from my village but on Mondays women from two neighboring villages (who currently do not have Peace Corps volunteers) traveled by boat to attend the trainings.

Many people have asked me if HIV/AIDS is a huge problem in Suriname. That question is difficult to answer as accurate, up-to-date data is not readily available. HIV/AIDS has not reached the epidemic status here as it has, for example, in many parts of Africa, however, there are many factors that threaten an epidemic in the near future. In other words, NOW is the time to fight this disease with awareness, education and understanding to hopefully prevent an exponential increase in transmission. Some of these factors include (and this is speaking from a Saramaccan viewpoint, not Suriname as a whole): co-wives being socially acceptable, transient lifestyle of the male population (looking for jobs), poor health education, prostitution in the gold bush, poor condom accessibility, poor HIV test accessibility and immense social stigma.

We gave every woman a teaching booklet so they can spread their knowledge of HIV/AIDS

During the first four weeks we covered how HIV is transmitted, addressed local myths and fears, talked about where villagers can get free condoms and free HIV tests, how to properly use condoms and what to do if someone is HIV positive (medication, lifestyle, first steps, etc). In addition, one of my Saramaccan friends (we'll call her Susan) was brave enough to travel to my village and share her personal story of contradicting HIV and how she lives with it. I have to admit that I was nervous for her to come. I was worried about the ugly face of stigma and I did not want anyone to offend Susan. I was relieved and heartened to discover that the women of my villager really stepped up and, although I could tell many were frightened, they embraced Susan and openly admired her strength and courage. I think this was the most powerful part of my classes and I am indebted to Susan who just cannot help but make everyone love her. After Susan told her story, we pushed deeper into fighting discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS and I could see the change of attitudes right before my eyes.

On the fifth Sunday, men, women and older children were invited to an HIV/AIDS Awareness Day put on by selected women from my class. It was a hectic day but I was pleasantly impressed by the women I had been meeting with one on one (outside of the normal trainings) to give the lesson. They remembered everything and did an amazing job! Besides the total of 54 women who attended the 4 classes, over 100 people came to the Awareness Day.

Helga practicing her part (how HIV IS transmitted)

Melo giving her part of the training (how HIV is NOT transmitted)

Impromptu dancing and singing afterwards

The women in the class each cross-stitched a square for our HIV Awareness Quilt that will be hung at the policlinic in my village. Cross-stitching is a big part of Saramaccan culture and served as a time of discussion among the women while they sewed during the week. Our hope is that it will be a conversation starter at the policlinic and help people feel more comfortable discussing HIV/AIDS. My fellow Peace Corps volunteers Shannon and Amber, who also live in Saramaccan villages, came up with the idea to incorporate cross-stitching into an HIV Awareness activity. Encouraged by the success in their villages, I decided to take the same concept and create an extended curriculum. Thanks Shannon and Amber!

All of the participating women on the Awareness Day with our final HIV Quilt

Helga and Diana with their finished cross-stitched squares

My square! It means "How will you stop HIV?"

I have led HIV/AIDS trainings at Camp Glows, helped other volunteers with their HIV/AIDS projects and had many informal discussions but this was my first official HIV/AIDS project in my village that I alone coordinated. I am really excited to have this under my belt and happy to report that I sincerely think (and pray) that the difference in these people's knowledge of HIV/AIDS will help fight the spread of the disease in Suriname. I gained a lot of hands on experience and look forward to applying it to my next projects.

A special thanks to my hubby for photographically documenting this project for me.