It’s the end of my second week at UNICEF and things are really beginning to take shape. I have met with my project supervisor several times and have created a revised ‘terms of reference’ for what I will be doing in Rwanda. The project is focused on HIV positive youth at two different sites within the country. I’ve been asked to give a workshop for the medical providers regarding youth-friendly communication. I am also being asked to design curriculum and implement a peer education program for the HIV positive youth at those two sites. It’s a tall order for just a few weeks and I am doing my best to manage expectations.
I was able to visit a local hospital in Kigali and was introduced to around thirty teenagers who meet on the weekends to talk about their problems living with HIV. It was an amazing day and I was so grateful that they welcomed me into their group. One of the kids served as my translator and I learned a lot about the difficulties these youth face. I was also taken by my supervisor to a rural hospital near the DRC border and met with another group of doctors and youth. The conditions at this hospital were shocking and I was humbled when I learned about the daily lives of the children I met in this rural village. There are so many challenges that they face, not the least of which is procuring food, and I wonder how such an underfunded hospital and overworked staff could possibly meet their needs. The funds from UNICEF are clearly needed and I am hoping to spend a lot more time at these sites to better understand the context and needs of these amazing kids.
