March 15, 2007
Bizana outreach

During the period 19 to 23 February 2007 presentations on HIV/AIDS were done in nine schools and one clinic. Over 3500 pupils were reached in this time. A principal of a school of more than 1100 pupils said that they are battling with teenage pregnancy. She is seeing children as young as fourteen years getting pregnant. The message brought by DFL team was timely and was appreciated by many.

A principal of another school we visited told us that her house is next to a certain high school. She is landlord to some of the high school learners. She told us that she lost seven of her tenants to HIV/AIDS
over a period of time.

The DVD, "In your face" was shown in all schools except one where there was no hall big enough to show the film. The outreach was success and there were many requests that the team comes back again.

The team (Johan Claasen, Shadrack Mafutsa, Salome du Toit, Rachel Thompson and I) stayed in a rural area of Bizana and enjoyed rural life for a week. The use of pit toilets and bathing with cold water were part
of the experience.

There were other schools that the team was not able to visit and they were disappointed. A principal of one of these schools asked if his school could be first in the list when DFL team comes back again.