Publication: Courage and Hope : Stories from Teachers Living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa
Date
2009
ISSN
Published
2009
Author(s)
Abstract
It is estimated that there are currently
approximately 122,000 teachers in Sub-Saharan Africa who are
living with HIV, the vast majority of whom have not sought
testing and do not know their HIV status. Stigma remains the
greatest challenge and the major barrier to accessing and
providing assistance to these teachers. The idea to collect
stories from teachers living with HIV was inspired during
the Association for the Development of Education in Africa
(ADEA) biennial meeting in Libreville, Gabon, in March 2006.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Margaret Wambete shared a
moving account of her life as a teacher living with HIV in
Kenya. Margaret's presentation alluded to the fact that
teachers living positively, in part due to their leadership
role and in part due to their visibility in society,
experience a unique set of challenges related to their
HIV-positive status. To emphasize the human dimension of
these stories, the technical team worked with journalists
rather than researchers. A seasoned journalist responsible
for the education section of a major Kenyan newspaper led
eight local journalists in documenting these stories.
Working with teacher unions and networks of HIV-positive
teachers in various countries, a number of HIV-positive
teachers were identified as willing participants for this
project. The journalists each interviewed teachers living
with HIV from their home country and recorded their stories.
Once collected, the stories were vetted for accuracy of
interpretation and then reviewed more widely at the meeting
of the African networks of ministry of education
HIV&AIDS focal points in Nairobi in November 2007. From
the interactions, the journalists learned that news
conferences, reports, or press statements they rely on for
information about HIV are not enough. Understanding the HIV
challenge requires close association with those living with
the HIV virus. These individuals have moving personal
testimonies that cannot be captured through hard facts and
figures. Only through close interaction can people living
with HIV express their fears, needs, and aspirations.
Personal testimonies from the teachers are a powerful tool
for spreading the message on HIV. Facts and figures are
important, but listening to those who have lived through the
experiences telling their stories makes the message more
potent. The lessons journalists learned from the exercise
will surely help them and readers of this book in redefining
their perception about HIV, especially in relation to
professionals such as teachers.
Citation
“Bundy, Donald; Aduda, David; Woolnough, Alice; Drake, Lesley; Manda, Stella. 2009. Courage and Hope : Stories from
Teachers Living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. Education and HIV/AIDS. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2700 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”