 | A brighter future for Kafue
I am in a small village in Kafue with representatives from RFSU to see the Love Support project implemented. When we arrive we are greeted by a group of happy, singing children.
Love Support project site in Kafue. The peer educators are presenting their work.
As we sit under the mango tree, protected from the first rain of this season, the local young people involved with the Love Support project tell us about the realities of this seemingly peaceful village. Kafue s struggling hard with aids, and an entire generation seems to be disappearing. We are told that three out of four children in this village are, or will soon be, orphans – many of them due to aids. One would think that in such a community, where most people are either hiv-positive themselves or have close friends or relatives who are, aids would be the topic of discussion. But apparently this is not the case. The fear of stigma make people find other explanations of the many deaths, such as tuberculosis and malaria.
Nevertheless, supported by Youth Vision Zambia, a group of young people have taken up the challenge of breaking the silence. These young people are trained as peer educators and provide advice, information and support to their classmates and fellow young villagers. Not only do they put time and effort into this on a voluntary basis – they also have to stand up against a great taboo. A sacrifice they are willing to make because they want a better future for the children who welcomed us so warmly.
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| Chembo and Chris from Youth Vision are filling up the "love jars" with condoms. |
We learn from the visit in Kafue that a core concept of the strategy of Youth Vision is to address real needs of real people. Even though conservative voices claim that it only encourages bad behavior, the peers discuss sexual matters with young people. They know that not doing so can be fatal. In the same manner, instead of disapproving of the many long distance drivers visiting prostitutes in the bars along the main road passing Kafue, part of the Love Support project has been to provide free condoms in the bars.
I was positively surprised to discover that Youth Vision targets young children. As part of the welcome ceremony, two young girls come forward and performed poems about aids in their community. These are issues that children of their age living in Europe usually do not have to worry about. But having chosen to address even young children seems to be a realization of the fact that aids affects everyone in a community. These children who are growing up together as orphans have a need to talk about what happened to their parents, and they will have the knowledge to be able to make the right choices about their own health before it is too late.
Text: Camilla Riel
Photo: Jessica Åström
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Hans Olsson, Programme Officer at RFSU, about sexuality education in Sweden.