Brighter Future has been caring for many young
people since they were first found as 6 or 7 year olds. They were suffering
from HIV. Their parents had died of AIDS. Their grandparents were old, very
poor or simply could not manage their severe symptoms. There was no treatment
available and hundreds of children like them were dying each week. Seeing them today it is hard to believe that they
came to Brighter Future as malnourished, undersized children with skin
diseases, open wounds, diarrhoea and sickness.
Many of the children had been
denied their early years of education by schools, because of thier home circumstances, being orphaned or through the stigma of being being HIV positive.
Brighter Future works in a predominantly
agricultural area where literacy is low, unemployment high and the weather a
succession of droughts and cyclones.
When we developed our strategy of caring for HIV+ children we knew that we would need to give them the opportunities that 'normal' children have - medical care to help them survive, and the chance of education, training and independent living.
The Problem
In our three homes for HIV children we have a number
of boys over the school leaving age, who are behind in their studies, have lost
confidence in their ability to catch up with their peers and some who are
simply not academically inclined.
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| Prem Nivas senior boys. |
The fear, stigma and ignorance attached to HIV
infection means that the children cannot get jobs or training if it is known
that they are HIV positive. To be skilled and experienced would give them an
opening in the local employment market, self- employment or to form a joint
venture unit.
The Solution to this problem has been given to Brighter Future India in the form of a grant from The Betty Lawes Foundation
Brighter Future approached the Foundation with a plan to establish a small
vocational training unit providing training in electrical and plumbing skills.
The area around Vizianagaram is being rapidly developed with private houses and
apartments creating a demand for these skills. Victor has identified both a
qualified electrician and a local plumbing skilled sanitary ware shop owner, who
are willing to train our young people and
employ them when suitable skilled.
We already have a building available on the Shanti Nivas site 5 miles from Vizianagaram. All that would be needed is a small extension,
security gates and teaching equipment.
Currently there are 10 boys (over 14 yrs) in need of
vocational training from the three HIV+ homes .
Self-confidence and self-reliance can replace the
young people’s earlier sense of failure and helplessness.
With a skill our boys would be able to find
employment in the large and growing development of surrounding districts where
such skills are in demand, especially in the newly formed State of Andhra
Pradesh.
Employment will enable them to break out of the
cycle of poverty and avoid the emotionally draining stigma of being HIV+.
