Concluding Days

Hey everyone so it's been awhile since I have posted but It's been a good few weeks teaching.  I had a great time teaching!! Ireally feel like we may be making a difference when we can answer questions that the children have about HIV/AIDS.  It's hard to believe what rumours still are beleived about HIV/AIDS.  We really try to make sure we answer all of the questions and hope that the children learn enough to protect themsleves, teach their freinds how to protect themselves, and try to decrease the stigma in society.  When we went on our UHAI home visits to patients with HIV/AIDS I saw a lot of what I expected but also I was filled with hope by then end.  Some of the patients were very sick, while others had been sick and were very motivated to go to the group sessions and are now doing very well.  UHAI is really an amazing program.  It tries to supply goats and chickens to the families so they can have eggs and milk for themselves, as well as sell them for a small income.  The most amazing women was a patient in her thirties and she had 9 children! Six of her own and 3 from her husbands other wife who had died of AIDS.  Her husband had also passed away and she now care for all of these children on her own.  It was amazing to speak with her because she is so determined but at the same time very aware of her condition.  One of the most challenging things I had to do over the past few weeks was answer one of the questions from the children.  I was asked why if HIV/AIDS rates are higher in poorer countries why are they so high in South Africa, the richest country on the continent.  It broke my heart to have to explain to these children how the Apartheid has affected education in South Africa and how civil unrest impacts HIV transmission rates.  All I hope is that by educating them such things can change and we can challenge poverty and inequality.
Yesturday was the last official day of the project and another hard day for me.  I got to go to the villages again to say goodbye and drop off donations.  Everyone was very grateful, especially the children at CCF.  It was very hard saying goodbye.  I am honestly not ready to leave here and I feel like i could stay and teach forever.  But I will just have to come back in a few years when I am qualified to do so much more!

Andrea