Appeal

Winter is winding down in Namibia. And I'm glad. I never thought that I would be shivering in Africa in the mornings. Also, there's a strong correlation between the cold weather and the number of funerals my Tatekulu, in his capacity as sub-headman, has to attend. Many of these deaths are old ookuku, blind and non-ambulatory. But, the flu that's been going also has been deadly for those with severely depressed immune systems, namely those in the advanced stages of AIDS. When you hear of the death of a 3 year old, you know that it's probably AIDS transmitted from the mother. One needs only to visit the Oshakati Hospital AIDS ward to see the prevalence of the disease in my region.

In this regard, the Peace Corps Namibia HIV and AIDS Committee of which I am a member is producing a calendar to raise funds for the secondary projects of education volunteers like myself. The funds will go towards resources for promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in the schools and local communities. My HIV/AIDS Club at Ntuli has held events during both terms this year and is planning to take a field trip to a clinic in Oshakati next term. The Peace Corps HIV and AIDS Committee is also busy helping to coordinate regionwide programs for training Namibian teachers and providing them with the tools and information they need to combat HIV/AIDS while teaching their regular classes.

Please consider purchasing a calendar and passing the message along. Here is a letter for friends and family with the details. For businesses that would like to sponsor our fundraiser, here's another letter.

Tangi unene!