USA: National AIDS Fund Announces Availability of Funding for Access to Care Initiative

The National AIDS Fund, with support from the Social Innovation Fund, has announced the opportunity for grant support through its Access to Care (A2C) initiative.

The goal of A2C is to increase the access and consistent utilization of effective HIV healthcare by People Living With HIV/AIDS, particularly those living in poverty, who know their HIV status but are not receiving HIV-specific care or support. Over the next three to five years, NAF will support approximately eight to twelve states, regions, and communities with high rates of infection to facilitate access to healthcare by strengthening support and service systems and addressing barriers that affect people’s readiness or ability to participate in HIV healthcare.

Grantseekers are encouraged to focus their applications on marginalized populations that traditionally have less access to, and retention within, medical care. Additionally, NAF seeks to spur innovative solutions to problems that have existed for PLWHA since the beginning of the epidemic — intersecting structural barriers to HIV care that include systems of care that do not address health needs with cultural competency, a lack of quality HIV care in rural or impoverished areas, lack of treatment self-efficacy among PLWHA, stigma and its impact on prevention, care and treatment deficiencies, and the individual-level dynamic that is the result of HIV infection being only one of many competing health and well-being challenges.

Applications should be coordinated by a lead entity for each project; priority will be given to efforts that share resources and involve multiple community partners that together have the trust of populations that experience the greatest challenges accessing healthcare.

Grantees must provide a local 1:1 dollar match toward their awards. NAF recognizes that communities will require assistance in identifying and accessing additional resources and will work with grantee communities in an effort to facilitate the process. Grant amounts are expected to fall into a range of $200,000 to $800,000 each annually, depending on the scope, scale, and numbers of individuals being reached in the proposed project. This range includes the local match amounts that grantees will be responsible for raising with NAF’s assistance.

Visit the National AIDS Fund Web site for complete grant guidelines and application materials: http://www.aidsfund.org/2010/09/20/national-aids-fund-with-support-from-the-social-innovation-fund-announces-availability-of-grant-resources-for-access-to-care-a2c-initiative/

Brazil, UK and Africa: Ashoka Changemakers “Changing Lives Through Football” competition

Ashoka Changemakers “Changing Lives Through Football” competition
deadline to enter is June 11, 2010

Nike and Ashoka’s Changemakers are pleased to kick-off the “Changing Lives Through Football” competition, building on the success of two collaborative competitions that have helped surface the best ideas in the emerging field of sport for social change (the “Sport for a Better World” and “GameChangers: Change the Game for Women in Sport” competitions).

Whether through their partnerships in Africa that support communities that fight HIV/AIDS, or its “Stand Up Speak Up” campaign to empower sports fans to voice their opposition to racism, Nike has long recognized the power of football (“soccer” in the US) to affect real change.

Join us to identify, inspire, and bring together the next wave of leaders who are eager to find ways that football can unleash the potential of young people, strengthen their communities, boost development, and affect change.

Football is the sport that unites the world. Billions of fans cheer their favorite teams. As anticipation mounts for this year’s World Cup tournament — the first ever played on the African continent — there’s no better time to translate the excitement into new ideas that empower youth.

The global stage is set to inspire social change through football, and Nike and Changemakers invite you to join the team. Help find the next wave of leaders who are using football to unleash the potential of young people by participating in the Changing Lives Through Football collaborative competition on Changemakers.com.

Sport enables human potential, allowing new leaders to emerge on the playing field of sport or life. We invite individuals, teams, and organizations that are using football for social change join us on Changemakers.com between March 24 and August 11, 2010.

Do you have a new idea or a thriving program that encourages youth by expanding access to football? Share your knowledge with our global community. Tell us how to magnify the impact of a football-based innovation by applying it around the world.

There are several ways you can participate: you can recommend a project or idea that should enter, post a comment or question in the online dialogue, and vote for the winners. Your experience and insights are invaluable. Together we may uncover the creativity – and natural drive to innovate – within each of us.

Invite your friends and colleagues! Together we can use the sport as a powerful tool to drive social change, educating, supporting, and protecting our world’s young people.
Guidelines, Criteria and Prizes

The Changing Lives Through Football competition is open to all types of individuals and organizations (charitable organizations, private companies, or public entities) from all countries. We consider all entries that:

* Reflect the theme of the challenge: Changing Lives Through Football. The scope of the competition is to identify innovative solutions that use football to strengthen community, accelerate development and drive social change. Entries are invited from organizations and individuals in all countries.
* Indicate growth beyond the conceptual stage and have demonstrated impact and sustainability. While we support new ideas at every stage and encourage their entry, the judges are better able to evaluate programs that are beyond the conceptual stage and have demonstrated a proof of impact.
* Are submitted in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.

Please complete the entire entry form and submit by June 11, 2010, 5PM US EST. All decisions of the judges will be final.

Assessment Criteria

The winners of this Changemakers Collaborative Competition will be those entries that best meet the following criteria:

* Innovation: This is the knock-out test; if the work is not innovative the judges will not give it high rankings. The application must describe the systemic innovation that it is focused on. The innovation should be a unique model of change demonstrating a substantial difference from other initiatives in the field with the possibility for large-scale expansion.
* Social Impact: It is important that the innovative idea provides a system-changing solution for the field it addresses. Some innovations will have proven success at a small level, while others will have potential to grow, engaging millions of people. Still others will achieve their impact quickly, while some will seed change for the long term. Regardless of the level of demonstrated impact, it is important to see that the innovation has the ability to be applied in the U.S. and other countries. This will be judged by considering the scale strategy, ability to be replicated, clear how-tos, and the entrant’s ability to formulate a clear “road map” to reaching larger goals.
* Sustainability: For an innovation to be truly effective it must have a plan for how it will acquire financial and other bases of support for the long-term. Entries should describe not only how they are currently financing their work, but also how they plan to finance their work in the future. The most successful entrants go beyond discussing whether or not they will charge for services and describe a business plan. They should also demonstrate that they have strong partnerships and support networks to address an ongoing need, and to aid in scalability and the maintenance of a clear financial strategy.

Competition Deadlines, Procedures, and Rules

Online competition submissions are accepted until June 11, 2010 at 5PM US EST. At any time before this deadline, competition participants are encouraged to revise their entries based on questions and insights that they receive in the Changemakers discussion. Participation in the discussion enhances an entrant’s prospects in the competition and provides the community and the judges an opportunity to understand the entrant’s project more completely.

Winners will be expected to spend any prize money awarded in furtherance of the purposes of the project and/or organization for which the applicant has submitted an entry form.

There are four main phases in the competition:

* Entry Stage, March 24 – June 11, 2010: Entries can be submitted until 5PM US EST on April 21, 2010, and throughout this stage anyone can participate in an online review discussion with the entrants.
* Online Review and Judging, June 11 – July 20, 2010: Online review and discussion continues. Simultaneously, a panel of expert judges and a team of Ashoka staff select the competition finalists.
* Voting, July 21 – August 11, 2010: The Changemakers community votes online to select the award-winners from the field of finalists.
* Global and Regional Winners Announced– August 18, 2010

Prizes

3 Global Winners:

ONLINE WINNERS – A panel of independent judges selected by Ashoka or Nike and Ashoka staff will select between 10 and 15 finalists from all of the entries submitted in the competition. All entries will be evaluated pursuant to the criteria as stated above. From among these 10-15 finalists, the Changemakers’ online community will vote for 3 winners. In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken by a vote of the independent judges. Any person may sign into and register with Changemakers at: http://www.changemakers.com/en-us to vote.

* The finalist individual or organization that receives the most votes – will be our Grand Prize Winner and receive $30,000 USD.
* The finalist individual or organization that receives the second most votes will be our 2nd Place Winner and receive $20,000 USD
* The finalist individual or organization that receives the third most votes will be our 3rd Place Winner and receive $10,000 USD

Winners will be announced August 18, 2010.

3 Regional Winners:

None of the three global winners from the ONLINE COMPETITION will be eligible. The Regional Prizes will be selected by our expert panel of judges at the conclusion of the voting period according to the criteria as stated above.. All decisions by the judges are final. To be eligible, the individual’s or organization’s work must be focused on the particular region.

* The Brazil Prize: The best entrant individual or organization based and serving one or more communities in Brazil will be selected by our panel of expert judges and will receive $10,000 USD.
* The UK Prize: The best entrant individual or organization based and serving one or more communities in the UK will be selected by our panel of expert judges and will receive $10,000 USD
* The Africa Prize: The best entrant individual or organization based and serving one or more communities in Africa will be selected by our panel of expert judges and will receive $10,000 USD

Winners will be announced August 18, 2010.

2 Early Entry Prizes: The best two entries submitted by 5pm EST, April 28, 2010 will be eligible to win a digital camera (with a value equivalent of up to USD $400) and will be highlighted in Ashoka’s Changemakers marketing materials. Being an Early Entry Prize winner does not preclude you from winning the competition in any way, or guarantee finalist status. All entries will be equally evaluated per the Changemakers criteria at the completion of the entry period.

3rd HALF and NCDO Early Entry Prize: (Nationale Commissie voor Internationale Samenwerking en Duurzame Ontwikkeling – National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development). NCDO helps people and organizations in the Netherlands who dedicate themselves to improving the position of people in developing countries. It supports these local development projects with advice and subsidies.

Entry Deadline: May 12, 2010, 5:00p EST

Criteria:

* Must be an innovative small to medium project that uses sport as a tool for social change
* The entry must be submitted in English
* The project must be based in the Netherlands but focus its work on South Africa
* Aims to be a self-sustaining venture in the next 3 years. The entrepreneur/entrant is the legal owner of the initiative and therefore has the authority to decide with whom to cooperate and/or negotiate the terms of a potential deal.

Selection:

* A Dutch jury selected by NCDO will choose 5 finalists
* The finalists will pitch their ideas to the Dutch jury in the Dragon’s Den Final on June 3, 2010 – This final takes place during a big business event of SANEC (the South African chamber of commerce) and the Dutch Royal Football Association.
* Winner and 2 runners up will be announced on June 3, 2010

Grand Prize Winner:

A seven day all expenses paid trip for 2 (max) to South Africa during the World Cup (June 17 – 24, 2010) for the winning entrant. During this trip the implementation process of the business idea will start.

Second and Third Place Winners:

Win business training by a top consultancy firm.

Click here to find out more about NCDO’s 3rdHALF.

Participation in the challenge provides the opportunity to receive feedback from fellow entrants, Changemakers staff, judges, and the Changemakers community. Showcasing initiatives and demonstrating social impact advise potential investors about how best to maximize the strategic impact of their investments.

Get Up – Speak Up! Write Your Rights! for Women Living with HIV

“Get Up – Speak Up! Write Your Rights!”, loudly called WLHIV activists Celina Menezes and Preeti Ahuja, at the Women’s Press Club in New Delhi, India on the eve of International Women’s Day, launching a message to be heard around the world. Call to Action: PLHIV – Write Your Rights! To mark International Women’s Day 2009, Women Living with HIV are launching a global initiative on Rights and Responsibilities, and invite their sisters and brothers, comrades and peers from around the world to participate in the collective drafting of the PLHIV Charter for HIV Care. This Charter will be the synthesis of values, principles, and aspirations that are globally shared by People Living with HIV, include elements of related rights-based documents, and establish the international Standard for Care that should be attained in all countries. The PLHIV Charter aims to outline the fundamental elements for building an equitable and effective system of care, from the perspective of those in need. The Charter will also serve to foster partnerships, bringing PLHIV and health professionals together to better collaborate in the global fight against HIV/AIDS through implementation of these best practices in local communities, and to inspire a new sense of participation, inter-dependence and shared responsibilities for the well-being of the HIV Community. It is the dignified expression of common cause, and amplifies the voices of those who have a lifesaving interest in improving the standards of care. The Write Your Rights campaign is an open and participatory consultation process to develop the PLHIV Charter for HIV Care. A series of ‘Outreach for Input’ meetings will be held during 2009 in diverse cities, from Maputo to Mexico, New Delhi to Nairobi, to further encourage the participation of individuals and organizations on the ground. Every two months, the latest updated draft version of the PLHIV Charter will be made widely available for further input. A final edition will be launched on World AIDS Day in December 2009, with the anticipated endorsement of the WHO, UNAIDS, the Global Fund and other international institutions. The PLHIV Charter will then provide activists with a powerful tool for advocacy to drive its implementation in many countries around the world. Write Your Rights! Outline Your Responsibilities! Contribute to the PLHIV Charter, and spread the word. Send your input and ideas by e-mail to: voices@plhivcharter.org The Write Your Rights campaign has been initiated by Delhi Mahila Samiti – DMS (Women’s Forum of Delhi Network of Positive People – DNP+) with support from the World Care Council. ———– ———– ———– ———– ———– ———– ———– ———– ———– ———– ———– ———– Llamado a la acción: Persona con VIH – Anota tus Derechos ¡Levantate-Alza la Voz! ¡Anota tus derechos!, un fuerte llamado de las activistas mujeres con VIH Celina Menezes y Preti Ahuja, en el Club de Prensa de las Mujeres en Nueva Delhi, India en la víspera del Día Internacional de la Mujer, lanzan un mensaje para ser escuchado alrededor del mundo. Un llamado para la Acción: Persona con VIH– ¡Anota tus Derechos! Para conmemorar el Día Internacional de la Mujer en 2009, las Mujeres con VIH inauguran una iniciativa mundial sobre Derechos y Responsabilidades, e invitan a sus hermanas y hermanos, compañeros y pares de todo el mundo a participar en un borrador colectivo de la Cartilla de las Personas con VIH para la Atención del VIH. Esta Cartilla sintetizará los valores, principios y aspiraciones que mundialmente compartidos por las personas con VIH, incluye elementos de documentos basados en los derechos, y establece los Estándares Internacionales para la Atención que deben ser alcanzados en todos los países. La Cartilla de las personas con VIH busca subrayar los elementos fundamentales para construir sistema de atención equitativo y efectivo, desde la perspectiva de aquellos en necesidad. La Cartilla también servirá para fomentar la colaboración, reuniendo personas con VIH y profesionales de la salud para colaborar mejor en la lucha en contra del VIH/SIDA mediante la implementación de estas mejores prácticas en comunidades locales e inspirar un nuevo sentido de participación, inter-dependencia y responsabilidades compartidas para el bienestar de la comunidad con VIH. Es la expresión dignificada de una causa en común, y amplifica las voces de aquellos que tienen interés en salvar vidas mejorando los estándares de la atención. La campaña Escribe Tus Derechos es un proceso de consulta participativo y abierto para desarrollar la Cartilla de la Persona con VIH para la Atención del VIH. Una serie de reuniones de “Alcance para obtener contribuciones” se efectuarán durante 2009 en diversas ciudades, desde Maputo a México y de Nueva Delhi a Nairobi, para adicionalmente alentar la participación de individuos y organizaciones en el terreno. Cada dos meses, la última versión actualizada del borrador de la Cartilla de la Persona con VIH estará ampliamente disponible para contribuciones adicionales. La edición final será lanzada en el Día Mundial del SIDA en diciembre de 2009, y será endosada por OMS, ONUSIDA, el Fondo Mundial y otras instituciones internacionales. La Cartilla de las Personas con VIH ofrecerá a los activistas un poderosa herramienta para la promover su implementación en muchos países del mundo. ¡Anota Tus Derechos! ¡Subraya Tus Responsabilidades! Contribuye con la Cartilla de la Persona con VIH y pasa la voz. Envíe sus contribuciones e ideas al correo: voices@plhivcharter.org La campaña Anota tus Derechos fue iniciada por Delhi Mahila Samiti – DMS (Foro de la Red de Personas Positivas de Delhi) con el apoyo de World Care Council.

Response to my blog on “AIDS in Costa Rica?” (from la gente in Costa Rica)

Recently, I wrote a blog on http://nosaracoconuttelegraph.wordpress.com/, “AIDS in Costa Rica?”: stating my disconcertment that in a country with legalized prostitution, where one (usually) has to BUY condoms at the farmacia, with a thriving tourist industry, home to many Gringo expats, as well as other Central Americans, with (some) churches that do not advocate the use of condoms, that I have yet to see a single AIDS poster, bill board, condom-dispenser at local night clubs and bars, or hear an HIV radio public service announcement since I arrived here almost 3 weeks ago.  And I have been all over San Jose, Quepos, Manuel Antonio, Jaco, all over Guanacaste, Montezuma, and my new home in Nosara.  I have not made it to the Caribbean coast yet.

 

I expected some inflamed responses because I was insinuating that someone is not doing their job.  Editors of well-known papers started sending me the national HIV/AIDS statistics, as reported on various sites, from the Costa Rican Ministerio de Salud to UNAIDS.  If you were to do an internet search yourself on “HIV/AIDS in Costa Rica”, you will see the wide variety of statistics.  Who is accurate? 

 

To me, which stats are accurate is not that important.  One has to keep in mind that the statistics are based on people who have had the courage, need, intelligence, or self-worth (or concern for their children’s health) to actually be tested.  The REAL question is how many Costa Ricans and Expats (and tourists!) have actually had an HIV test?!  Of course, the statistics will be low when only a microscopic fraction of the population is actually getting tested!  According to UNAIDS and WHO half of people spreading HIV do not know they are HIV, because they have not been regularly tested. (ref: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/livingwithhiv.htm)

 

The important fact is that, regardless of the current (varied) statistics, the factors that lubricate the transmission of HIV are ripe in Costa Rica.  In other words, here in Costa Rica, without a comprehensive, unified HIV/AIDS/sexually-transmitted disease awareness, prevention, education, and HIV testing campaign, Costa Rica and its visitors are extremely vulnerable to be exposed to HIV, unknowingly.  The conditions I am referring to:

 

• Legalized prostitution
• Active tourism industry
• Gringo and other Central American Expatriates living and working here
• Substance abuse issues
• Limited access to free condoms
• Catholic Church does not advocate the use of condoms
• Lack of sexual education in schools
• Sexually active youth (average age 15) without sexual education
• High level of teen pregnancies
• International business
• Migrant labor to the cities (from rural areas)
• Inter-Central American transport systems
• Mercenary ports on both coasts
• Poor public (especially, health) infrastructure in some regions
• Poor education systems in some regions
• Discrimination of homosexuals
• Social, political and economic stigma and discrimination of persons living with HIV/AIDS (and their loved ones)

 

 

These conditions are not special to Costa Rica.  These are the same conditions that fuelled the spread of HIV throughout Africa, India, Europe, and the United States.  All I am saying is that there needs to be a comprehensive, multi-sectoral, unified HIV/AIDS awareness and education campaign BEFORE the statistics become higher.  I am speaking of prevention.

International Development Work Experience: Deshpande Foundation 2009 Sandbox Fellows Program

At least once a week, people write me asking how they can get into international development work, or extend their development work after a tour of duty with Peace Corps or VSO and such.  Here is an excellent opportunity for entry level development workers to get some more in-the-field international development experience:

Deshpande Foundation 2009 Sandbox Fellows Program

Deadline to apply: January 4th, 2009.

Deshpande Foundation is accepting applications for our Sandbox Fellowship program. This is a year-long program for dynamic professionals or post-graduate school candidates who have experience working in on- the-ground development and/or social entrepreneurship and are seeking an extended experience working on these issues. Fellows are matched according to the skills and project needs defined by each specific NGO in order to ensure a mutually beneficial experience for both parties. More information about the Fellowship program can be found here: http://www.deshpandefoundation.org/GEP.html.
The Deshpande Foundation welcomes motivated individuals to apply to our 2009 Fellows Program. The Deshpande Foundation is the family foundation of Gururaj (“Desh”) and Jaishree Deshpande. Founded in 1996, it is a leading philanthropic foundation in Massachusetts and India in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and international development. We develop partnerships with innovative leaders with a new idea, product or service that can potentially benefit millions of people and change entire industries.

The Global Exchange Program was launched in January 2008 to put into practice The Deshpande Foundation’s vision for global exchange specific to development and innovation. The concept allows for exchange – in both directions- improving and addressing the solutions that solve the developing world’s most intractable challenges. The Global Exchange Program was designed to help fuel the change of innovation and improve the outcomes of development. The Fellows work to address challenges at NGOs working the in the fields of Agriculture, Livelihood, Education and Health. Ideal candidates have experience in these areas but also add value by bringing skills from the IT sector, business (marketing and management), finance (accounting) and other globally applicable skills. Current fellows are dynamic and interested in making a long term impact through innovation in the sector. In June 2008, The Deshpande Foundations welcomed the first team of 10 Fellows to the Sandbox, with Fellows from both the US and the UK.

The next Sandbox Fellowship class runs from June 2009-June 2010 and Innovator applications are accepted quarterly.  The deadline for all applications is January 4th, 2009. Please send your most resent resume and completed application to info@deshpandefoundation.org.

Attention Cyclists: Riding to Break the Cycle 2009

Vancouver, B.C. to Tijuana, Mexico OR Amsterdam, Netherlands to Istanbul, Turkey bike ride to raise funds and awareness about how microcredit can help developing world entrepreneurs lift THEMSELVES out of poverty. Deadline for applications is Friday, January 23, 2009.

Want to make a positive impact on the world? Interested in cycling the Pacific Coast or Europe?

Join one of the two 2009 tours where teams of 25 young people pedal from either Vancouver, B.C. to Tijuana, Mexico OR Amsterdam, Netherlands to Istanbul, Turkey to raise funds and awareness about how microcredit can help developing world entrepreneurs lift THEMSELVES out of poverty.

“An intensely powerful experience, a sharp reminder of what this was all about, the perfect wrap-up to a challenging journey of personal growth, and something none of us will soon forget.”
– Shawn Smith on the ride and visit to ADMIC, a microcredit organization in Hermosillo, Mexico

Two 2009 tours:
• Pacific Coast: cycle 3000km in seven weeks this summer, beginning May 31, 2009 from Vancouver, BC to Tijuana, Mexico
• Europe: cycle 4000km in eight weeks, beginning July 1, 2009 from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Istanbul, Turkey

Why join one of the two 2009 bike tours?
• Interact and educate communities along the way about microcredit and its power to help alleviate global poverty
• Join a mobile community of youth leaders while building enduring friendships
• Check out last year’s successful Pacific Coast bike tour at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx9cxUthhCM

The 2009 Rider Application Form is available at www.globalafc.org

Deadline for applications is Friday, January 23, 2009.

If you have any questions regarding Riding to Break the Cycle 2009, email info@globalafc.org or please visit: www.globalafc.org

Global Agents for Change is a BC based, youth-run, non-profit dedicated to youth engagement and creating sustainable solutions to global poverty. Global Agents for Change empower youth leaders and social entrepreneurs through education, projects, outreach and fundraising events. 

For Youth ages 18-30

AIDS – Awareness Game (Specifically for Teenage Girls)

AIDS – Awareness Game

Summary

This game is designed to be played by a group of young people, led by a facilitator, with the goal of understanding the challenges of preventing teenage girls from suffering HIV infection, pregnancy, family breakdown, or other adolescent risks. Players take charge of the risks and results of the behaviour of a fictional girl, while facilitators support the participants in the final goals of:

• having good information about HIV/AIDS transmission; and
• having a chance to discuss attitudes and choices with each other.

Preparation for the game requires, in addition to the instructions:

• one die;
• 4 small objects, e.g. stones with dots of different colours – one to represent each team;
• the Message about risky sex (page 3) printed out;
• the 4 Girl Cards (page 4) – printed and cut out;
• the 4 Risk Day Lists (pages 5 to 8) printed out;
• the Good Day Cards (page 9) – printed twice and cut out, so there are two copies of each card;
• The gameboard (page 10) printed out.

The instructions also provide internet links to informational resources including statistics, such as the percent of HIV-positive young women attending antenatal clinics, who are HIV positive; male circumcision information on possible infection reduction; and percent of adolescents in Africa who have had at least one abortion.

 

Click here to download this document in MS Word format.

 

Click here to download this document in PDF format.

Publisher

Networklearning.org

Number of Pages

10

Contact

<!–

networklearning.org

–>

networklearning.org

networklearning.org website

Web-based email contact

info@networklearning.org

A Visit to Mbopha High School: South Africa

 

            Today, we are going to take a literary field trip to rural Africa.  More specifically, a flight, half way across the globe, to the Province of Kwa Zulu Natal, in the very north-east corner of South Africa. Think of Survivor (in Kenya) or Discovery Channel and Animal Planet documentaries with lions chewing on exotic deer, cheetahs lounging in flat trees, elephants bathing in muddy rivers, and giraffe crossing dirt roads.  We are going to follow one of those dirt roads up into the mountains, where we will find a small collection of mud huts with thatched roofs.  This rural village is named Hlabisa.  The people of Hlabisa are Zulu; just one of 11 South African tribes.  Even though everyone in Hlabisa speaks Zulu, they are now teaching the youth English at the schools.  So we can just ask any school-aged child how to get to our destination:  Mbopha High School.

 

            It turns out that Mbopha High School is just off the main (and only) dirt road in Hlabisa.  The school is made out of hand-made bricks and has metal roofs.  There is no electricity (so no computers or vending machines!) and the toilets are distant from the school (they are more like our “Porta-Potties”, basically a hole in the ground!)  The school has no library, no gym, no “official” sports’ fields, and no cafeteria.  Students must bring their own lunch, which is usually bread, butter, and fruit.  Mbopha High School Students are supposed to wear a school uniform, but many students come from poor families and cannot afford to buy the uniform. Some students sew their own uniform from scratch and make their own shoes. 

 

            Hlabisa does not have any school bus services, so all students have to walk to school, sometimes up to 3 miles a day (back and forth) rain or shine.  And they must share text books, because there are not enough books to go around.   In addition to the standard school subjects, English, math, and basic science, Zulu students have to learn Zulu, Afrikaans (another popular South African language in the area), and Life Skills.  Life Skills teaches Zulu adolescents about primary health care, sexual education, a little bit of agriculture and animal husbandry (the main occupation in these parts.)  South African schools do not offer Driver’s Education, so most Zulu teens never learn to drive, unless they can afford to learn when they are adults.  Just like all high school students, following the 12^th year of studies, Zulus must take the Matric Exam, which is equivalent to our SAT’s. 

 

            Depending on the results of the Matric Exam, most Zulu teens strive to get scholarships into a university or a Teknikon.  Teknikons are special vocational schools that teach specific trades in skilled labor such as carpentry, electronics, engineering, computers, plumbing, etc.  It is still rare in these parts that girls go to university, unless it is to study to be a school teacher, administrative assistant, or nurse—but that appears to be changing slowly.  

 

            So what could an American adolescent possibly have in common with a Zulu teen?  Actually, a lot!  Just like most young people, Zulu teens love sports; the boys favor soccer and volleyball, while the girls like to play netball (which is similar to our basketball.)  When they can afford it, Zulus will choose KFC, McDonald’s, and Coca-Cola over their traditional foods of pap (a corn-meal type paste) and chakalaka (a spicy cabbage dish.)  American music, especially hip-hop, house, R & B, and rap, have been a huge success in this little village.  Every Zulu teen knows Snoop Dogg and Eminem, and they love to dance.  And just like American teens, despite their poverty, Zulu teens are very fashion-conscious and dress similar to American teens, even if it means sewing their own outfits.  Zulu teens prefer American movies and television shows, when available.

 

            Zulu teens and American youth share similar challenges in peer pressure, drug/alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, gangs, college entrance stress, conflict
with authority figures, general teenage angst, sex and the risks involved, dating,
self-esteem issues, crime, and identity formation.  However, Hlabisa Zulu youth have a few unique stressful conditions, aside from poor water systems and poor general living conditions.  One out of two people in Hlabisa is HIV+ and many Zulu teens have lost a parent and/or relatives to AIDS-related diseases.  This means almost 1/3 of Zulu teens are orphans.  A lot of Zulu teens have to abandon school prematurely in order to find work, on a farm or a local shop, to support their younger orphaned siblings and sick or aging relatives.  Most Zulu teens are raised by their grand-mothers, while any remaining parents or adult relatives seek work in the cities.  There are no orphanages, shelters, or youth centers out here.  Usually, neighboring families will help orphaned children.

 

            Zulus adolescents also have to participate in traditional rituals such as the Virginity Testing Ceremony (for girls) and the Circumcision Ritual (for boys.)  In Zulu culture, the ability for a Zulu girl to remain a virgin until marriage is highly praised.  In order to prove one’s virginity, a girl must participate in the Virginity Testing Ceremony, where she will be “tested” by local elderly women in front of everyone!  This annual ceremony is conducted in front of the Zulu King, all his staff, and local community members.  Once a girl is declared a virgin, she is celebrated in her village.  This improves her chances of finding a husband.  Zulu girls may marry as young as 15 years old!

 

            Boys used to have to go “out in the bush” and learn to survive for weeks on their own.  Upon return, the local Sangoma, or Traditional Healer, circumcises them–without painkillers, OUCH!  This ritual celebrates the transition of a boy into a man.  However, over the past few years, this ritual has become less and less popular, but some Hlabisa boys still have to participate. 

 

            Now, due to more exposure to American and European media, western culture is having a visible influence on Zulu youth.  And of course, Zulu parents do not always approve of their children’s “American” ways.  Despite the obvious differences in cultures, living and schooling conditions, Zulu teens and American adolescents would have a lot to talk about, starting with why parents always say “No!”