HIV Testing Program

I have been really bad about writing a proper post for the blog. Sorry!

Here is a little update about what has been going on around here.

Last year, I wanted to do an HIV testing competition at my school, but the timing was just off and we were not able to plan it. So, I decided, since I have a lot more free time and resources here in Khorixas, it would be the perfect time/place to have an HIV testing program. I modeled it after a program done in Erongo region (my old region), made some changes and proposed it to OYO (my new host organization). They loved the idea, so we worked on making it happen!

The idea for the competition was to educate the secodary learners on HIV testing and then send them out into the community to mobilize the community to come and get tested (the learners were also encouraged to get tested as well--as long as they are 16, they do not need parental permission). We partnered with a few other organizations (the main one being an HIV testing centre in location) and came up with a 3 week program in hopes of getting Khorixas tested!

The first two weeks, my colleagues and I, along with New Start (the testing centre), went out into the two are secondary schools to do lessons on HIV testing. We explained what would happen before, during and after a test, what happens if you test negative/positive, how there is hope after testing HIV positive and answered every and all questions they had (and trust me, they had a lot!). I had so much fun being back in the classroom! My responsibility was at the senior secondary school (grades 8-12). I taught almost every class twice in the two weeks, so I was pretty busy, but I loved it. It was great how excited the learners were and how open they were with their questions.

At the end of the two weeks, we split the learners into teams (two classes per team) and each team had a specific color. They all recieved tickets in their color and their job was to use the tickets to get tested themselves (if they wanted) or to go out and promote HIV testing amoung family and friends. They give the tickets away, and then the people they give them to go to the testing centres and turn the tickets in when they get they tested. At the end, we were able to see which team brought in the most people to be tested by counting the tickets.

And the prizes?? First prize for the winning class was a goat! Americans may not understand, but goats are a pretty big deal here. Everyone is obsessed with meat and loves goat! Learners went crazy when they found out about a goat being first prize. Second prize were pens and pencils (also, a big deal). We also had a raffle for those who were tested. They could win 2 springbucks (a deer like animal) and a bike.

We had about 3 full days of testing and had around 95 people tested (which is a lot!). I was so happy! The best part was how many learners went for testing. Everytime I was at a testing centre to see how things were going, a group of learners were there. Close to half of grade 12 was tested! It was a great feeling to see learners walk out of a testing centre releived to know their status.

We ended the testing week with our Day of the African Child Celebration. We had songs, dances, skits and speeches done by learners from the 6 area schools. Then, at the end, we announced the winning class for the testing competition. Grade 12 won! It was so cute to watch them go crazy when they heard they won. They came running up to the stage, dancing and screaming and hugging the goat.

The whole program was a lot of work, but in the end it was worth it! It was great to see so many learners and community members tested. And to see how excited Grade 12 was to win the goat! I was so proud of them for working hard to get people tested.