From our previous visit to Lichtenburg where Life Skills Programs where
presented at a selected few schools in that area. Again in correspondence
with the Deputy Director of Aids Co-ordination in the North-West Province,
Eric Ganz, Doctors For Life was again invited to present the talk to the
North-West Province AIDS Comittee. On the 13 th of January two
Staff Members from the Doctors for Life office in Kwazulu Natal, Shadrack
Mafutsa (Legal Department) and Liam Buys (Visual Communications Department)
set out to Lichtenburg for Life Skills AIDS talks
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AIDS Committee of the North West Province
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A young boy listening attentively while the the AIDS talk is being presented
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On our arrival in Lichtenburg the two of us where heartely
welcomed by the Snyman family who are local farmers in the Duikerfontein
area situated approximately 30km outside of Lichtenburg. On the 15 th
of January we met with Eric Ganz (Deputy Director of AIDS Co-ordination)
in Mafikeng area early that morning to propose a School AIDS talk to him.
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| He was so impressed with our factual and intense way of approaching
the disease that he felt that the rest of the AIDS steering committee should
hear it as well. At the second meeting with the AIDS steering committee
organised by the Region's First Educational Specialist MS. Josie Vincent,
we were able to give the talk to a number of people who have direct influence
in Life Issue Programs at schools in the North-Western Province. |
Josie Vincent first educational specialist |
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Carel and Sharlene Snyman, our hosts |
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The audience responded with comments and questions, which led to the
debate on whether condoms are save or not. Due to experience and research
on these issues, they could be answered. Further communication would have
to take place between the head and steering committee of Doctors For Life
and the Regional Aids committee of the North-West Province for a possible
Life Skills Orientation program at near to 2000 schools in that Province.
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| On the 15 th of January we met with Mr. Kerileng (Head nurse)
at the Rooigrond prison. He told us the shocking news that four of his prisoners
died the previous week because of the HIV/AIDS. He said that life skills
talks in the prison where a major necessity and asked us to present the
talk to the AIDS Steering Committee the following week which we did. The
AIDS Steering Committee consists of at least one peer leader from each cellblock.
After presenting the talk it was good to see the interest it created amongst
the prisoners and we were bombarded with interesting questions. |
Children are taught the facts about
AIDS and some of them see the disease for the first time in their
lives |
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Most of the people who came to
listen where local farm workers and their wives who were concerned
about their health and their children's |
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Afterwards they acknowledged that they lacked appropriate
training and asked us whether we could possibly do some training with them.
Other talks were done amongst farm-workers and schools. The response was
overwhelming and we are looking forward in engaging in a long term Life
Skills Programs in the North-Western Province, especially with the schools.
We believe that South Africa's youth is the future of our country and that
we, as the older generation, should cherish them as gold. |
There is a huge need amongst the people
in the North West Province to talk on life skills issues.Ý |
Shadrack in front of a store in a small
town called Derby where the team stopped for a meal. |
The team drove for miles on the most
gorgeous, flat roads through the north-west province to reach their
destinations. |
Some of the AIDS Comittee personnel listening
to the AIDS talk presented by Liam Buys. |
Liam Buys presenting the AIDS talk at
the old parliament building to the North West Province AIDS comittee. |
Shadrack Mafutsa speaking to the children
at vlakpan laerskoo |
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