On the occasion of World AIDS Day, we'd like to celebrate PLWHIV (People living with HIV) who are making a difference.
In August 2005, when ARVs (anti-retrovirals) finally arrived in Karatu District, two brave women joined the treatment program and asked CPAR Tanzania for education about HIV&AIDS. We started a support group for women living with HIV and provided access to small business loans. By December 2006, 35 women strong, they decided to go public with their status by marching proudly and loudly through the streets of Karatu.
Today, CPAR Tanzania's "partner", UMATU (Upendo na Matumaini) (Love and Hope), is an NGO of 60 women living "positively". And they haven't stopped shouting. We partnered with them to do education outreach and counselling of PLWHIV and other community members. People increasingly sought them out for information and education.
In 2007, Canadian journalist Valerie Pringle heard about UMATU and initiated a fundraising campaign in Canada for construction of UMATU Centre, a multi-purpose complex housing office and meeting space, training centre, handicrafts and bakery/future café.
As UMATU built their capacity to plan and deliver dynamic outreach education, in 2008 they received funding from the Stephen Lewis Foundation to implement an education outreach project. This led to increased levels of testing for HIV in Karatu District, and many more HIV positive people joining the treatment program. The positive results UMATU achieved then led to a second grant from the Stephen Lewis Foundation this year to continue their outreach education.
UMATU has dealt a severe blow to stigma and greatly raised awareness and understanding in Karatu District. At UMATU Centre, they are busy baking bread & cakes, sewing cloth handbags, making beaded jewelry and renting out their training centre, all with a view to making sales and achieving sustainability. Out in the community, they are educating people about human rights, gender issues and HIV&AIDS, encouraging women and men to test, know their status and take action. They are now facilitating new support groups of women and men together.
The women of UMATU are an inspiration to everyone they meet, and an important example of the amazing things that can be accomplished when people come together to support each other.
UMATU members themselves say it best:
I have so much hope right now. I know that death is necessary; I killed all my fears and worries. I mean honestly, everyone has a day to die, and mine will come but not because of HIV&AIDS.
In August 2005, when ARVs (anti-retrovirals) finally arrived in Karatu District, two brave women joined the treatment program and asked CPAR Tanzania for education about HIV&AIDS. We started a support group for women living with HIV and provided access to small business loans. By December 2006, 35 women strong, they decided to go public with their status by marching proudly and loudly through the streets of Karatu.
Today, CPAR Tanzania's "partner", UMATU (Upendo na Matumaini) (Love and Hope), is an NGO of 60 women living "positively". And they haven't stopped shouting. We partnered with them to do education outreach and counselling of PLWHIV and other community members. People increasingly sought them out for information and education.
In 2007, Canadian journalist Valerie Pringle heard about UMATU and initiated a fundraising campaign in Canada for construction of UMATU Centre, a multi-purpose complex housing office and meeting space, training centre, handicrafts and bakery/future café.
As UMATU built their capacity to plan and deliver dynamic outreach education, in 2008 they received funding from the Stephen Lewis Foundation to implement an education outreach project. This led to increased levels of testing for HIV in Karatu District, and many more HIV positive people joining the treatment program. The positive results UMATU achieved then led to a second grant from the Stephen Lewis Foundation this year to continue their outreach education.
UMATU has dealt a severe blow to stigma and greatly raised awareness and understanding in Karatu District. At UMATU Centre, they are busy baking bread & cakes, sewing cloth handbags, making beaded jewelry and renting out their training centre, all with a view to making sales and achieving sustainability. Out in the community, they are educating people about human rights, gender issues and HIV&AIDS, encouraging women and men to test, know their status and take action. They are now facilitating new support groups of women and men together.
The women of UMATU are an inspiration to everyone they meet, and an important example of the amazing things that can be accomplished when people come together to support each other.
UMATU members themselves say it best:
I feel so empowered now that I know that other women
here are in my position…
My life has changed so much since joining UMATU - we get
educated here and with this knowledge, we educate the society...
I feel so good that this group has gotten this far, we are really helping each
other, we advise each other and we make each other happy just by being able to
talk to each other about living with the virus...
educated here and with this knowledge, we educate the society...
I feel so good that this group has gotten this far, we are really helping each
other, we advise each other and we make each other happy just by being able to
talk to each other about living with the virus...
Everyone, from family level to District level, knows our HIV
status. This has encouraged many women to come out and join our group, and now men, who were the biggest obstacles in the families, are coming forward for
education.
status. This has encouraged many women to come out and join our group, and now men, who were the biggest obstacles in the families, are coming forward for
education.
There is hope to live, that’s part of being a member of UMATU. We meet every Wednesday, we share life stories… there is really a lot of hope.
I have so much hope right now. I know that death is necessary; I killed all my fears and worries. I mean honestly, everyone has a day to die, and mine will come but not because of HIV&AIDS.
