Tag Archives: Zoe-Life

by | November 27, 2012 · 3:52 pm

From the vault: PPI – SA learns it’s OK to be selfish! – A new approach to HIV/AIDS education

In April, PPI – SA International Fellow, Kristin Degou, wrote the following blog about her experience taking part in a HIV/AIDS capacity building workshop.

PPI-SA staff Nasiphi and Londa taking part in a hands on demonstration of how HIV/AIDS infects the body.

You=Me.

A simple, yet powerful statement!  But what does it have to do with HIV and AIDS?

On March 27th & 28th, PPI-SA staff took part in a 2 day HIV/AIDS capacity building workshop at Glenridge Church.  The workshop, run by PPI-SA partner Zoë-Life, was nothing new for most of our staff, as we have partnered and done similar workshops with them in the past. However, this year, Zoë- Life took a new, innovative approach to the HIV/AIDS issue by using content from Bridges of Hope and SABCOAH (South African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS).

Phumlani , a Zoe- life facilitator, leads a group discussion on HIV/AIDS transmission on day 2 of the workshop

Before delving into the HIV virus itself, Zoë-Life facilitator Christy-Joy Webster focused the session around the general idea that each of us as individuals has value, and the importance of appreciating our value. PPI-SA staff were asked to think about the future, and to create goals for their futures. The  focus was on what we needed to accomplish these goals, and also what might get in the way. Zoë-Life showed us that creating goals for yourself is one of the best ways to realize your own value and what you can accomplish in life.

Another activity we did to show importance of self value was in creating identity statements. We were asked to finish the sentence, “I am..” This was one of the most challenging exercises, as Zoë-Life pushed us to not just answer what we already think we are, but rather what we want to be, but still don’t believe about ourselves. It was an inspiring activity that helped everyone realize where we are now, and more importantly, what we want to be in the future.

You=Me may be a simplistic phrase, but it is deep in meaning.  You must not see yourself as lesser or better than any other individual. Seeing people as people, will allow us to realize our own value, while still seeing the value in others. It is the hope of Zoe-Life that people will embrace this idea, the concept of having self value. If you value yourself, and are selfish in the right aspects, you will be less likely to engage in risky behavior that will put your value in jeopardy.

As PPI-SA is primarily focusing on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in its life skills programmes, this workshop was a wonderful opportunity for our staff to get a refreshing take on the HIV/AIDS issue. Empowering our own staff to understand the importance of self value and individual goals will enhance their ability to be positive role models and teachers to the most important people in PPI-SA- our participants.

Zoë-Life will soon be offering free counseling and HIV testing to all of our PPI-SA staff. Words cannot explain how grateful we are for this opportunity, as it is so important to “know your status.” Thank you to our facilitators Christy-Joy and Phumlani, and to Zoë-Life, for continuing to innovate their curriculum and host these incredible workshops!

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by | June 19, 2012 · 1:46 pm

PPI-SA Builds Bridges to Bring Hope

PPI-SA staff get together after facilitating Bridges of Hope activities to students at Addington Primary school.

This past week, Jun 11 – Jun 14 2012, PPI-SA staff were fortunate to be trained as facilitators for the award winning Bridges of Hope curriculum. Bridges of Hope (BoH) is unique from other HIV-AIDS curricula in that, rather than just giving information, it puts strong focus on behavior changing techniques. The course includes interactive training activities that touch on HIV-related issues and promote behavior change for healthy, positive lifestyles that help people make and reach their life goals.

Bridges of Hope activities and methodologies are designed to ‘touch the heart, not just the head’ -they actively engage and involve participants in a way that enables them to internalize the messages, and apply them in a practical way to their own personal situation.

PPI-SA staff Mtu, Dallas, and Michael run a Bridges of Hope activity called “My Future” where participants think about having a vision for their goals and dreams

Previously, all PPI-SA staff went through a two-day HIV/AIDS capacity building workshop run by partner Zoë-Life.  On the first day, facilitator Christy-Joy Webster led various BoH activities, making us think deeply about ourselves, our value, and our dreams and goals in life. Having already been exposed to the BoH activities as participants, many PPI-SA staff members were able to use that experience to learn how to facilitate these activities themselves.

The three-day facilitation workshop was again run by Christy-Joy Webster, a familiar face around PPI-SA. Christy has done a lot of wonderful work for PPI, and as one of only three Master Trainers of the BoH curriculum in South Africa, she agreed to train PPI-SA staff to be facilitators. Christy puts a personal touch on everything she teaches and it was an honor for us to learn from her.

On the first day of the training, Christy brought us through some activities we had already done in previous workshops. Seeing these activities for a second time brought some clarity on how to effectively facilitate them and obtain the desired outcomes.

On the second day, we did more hands on practical training. We chose activities that we enjoyed or were powerful to us, and then practiced facilitating those activities in small groups.  We realized that facilitating takes a lot of practice! It requires guiding the group to come up with their own thoughts and ideas on a subject, rather than just telling them information or the “right answer”.

The third day was very exciting, as we took our new facilitating skills out to the field. PPI-SA staff headed out to Addington Primary, a partner school of PPI-SA, to work with 40 7th grade school children.  We broke them into small groups and each group had 4 PPI-SA staff leading BoH activities. Overall, the day went very smooth. Though many PPI-SA staff members were at first a bit hesitant to be in front of a group as facilitators, they ended up confidently and successfully facilitating their sessions. It was a great day for everyone involved, and showed us how much these activities really can change participants’ lives.

For over a year, PPI-SA has been trying to find a way to train its entire staff in facilitating the BoH curriculum, so we can then integrate it into the current PPI-SA life skills programme. Thanks to the dedication from former PPI-SA fellow Taylor Brown and Zoë-Life employee Christy-Joy Webster, it finally became a reality to make this wonderful training happen.  Thank you so much to them and to Zoë-Life for continuing to do amazing things for PPI-SA and the lives we touch.

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by | May 29, 2012 · 2:37 pm

PPI – South Africa Hosts 22nd Semi-Annual City-Wide Tournament

Participants come together at the City-Wide Tournament in their new SASOL t-shirts and hats!

On Saturday, May 26th, PeacePlayers International – South Africa (PPI-SA)  hosted its 22nd semi-annual City-Wide Tournament for over 800 participants from the primary school program! This year, The Brooklyn Nets, a United States based professional basketball club in the National Basketball Association, was recognized at the tournament for their investment in PeacePlayers.

PPI-SA runs year-round programs for 35 primary schools targeting grade 6 and 7 learners from racially and culturally divided communities in and around Durban. At the end of each semester, PPI-SA hosts a basketball extravaganza where all of these participants come together to learn and have fun in a safe environment.

Most Valuable Players were selected and were rewarded with a brand new adidas kit.

A key focus of the first of two City-Wide Tournaments of the year is that players are regrouped to form new teams consisting of players from different schools and communities. This process allows for the integration between players from different communities and schools, facilitating the most important goal of PPI, promoting peace among different groups and creating friendships.

It was a beautiful day for the tournament, and the excitement mounted as taxis arrived full of energetic, anxious participants.  As soon as they arrived, each participant was greeted with a gift pack consisting of a t-shirt, cap, water bottle and straw kindly donated by SASOL, a South African-based fuel company.  After receiving their gifts, participants were entertained by Thobani Khumalo, PPI-SA life skills coordinator, through his rhyming beats and educational song “I’m a PeacePlayer.”

“We want to thank the Brooklyn Nets for their global support of PPI programmes,” said Managing Director Marcel van der Heever. “We also extend our sincerest gratitude to Sasol for their many years of support and for helping us make the City-Wide Tournament such a memorable event through their kind donation of matching T-shirts, caps and water bottles for all the kids.”

To start off activities, all participants took part in a team building session to get more comfortable and interact with their new teammates. Teams then competed in basketball games, with each team playing four matches on their respective courts.

In addition to the basketball and fun, Zoë-Life, a partner of PPI-SA, hosted free Voluntary Counseling Testing (VCT) services for HIV/AIDS for anyone older than 16 years of age. This was a first for the City-Wide Tournament, and added unparalleled value to the tournament. PPI-SA bases its life-skills curriculum largely around HIV/AIDS education and awareness, and the presence of Zoë-Life created a supportive and encouraging platform for people to get tested and know their status.

Another highlight of the day was the integration of our Leadership Development Program participants into the City-Wide. Over 40 LDP high school participants came and volunteered as coaches and mentors to their younger counterparts. Many of the LDP participants were a part of the City-Wide as 6th and 7th graders, so it was a special experience for them to now be role models. The champions of LDP for the 1st semester, Molweni, were also awarded their trophy in front of the entire tournament during the closing ceremonies.

On behalf of PPI-SA, we would like to thank everyone, especially its staff, for making the event a huge success and a special day for all.

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by | April 3, 2012 · 7:31 pm

PPI-SA learns it’s OK to be selfish! – A new approach to HIV/AIDS education.

PPI-SA staff Nasiphi and Londa taking part in a hands on demonstration of how HIV/AIDS infects the body.

You=Me.

A simple, yet powerful statement!  But what does it have to do with HIV and AIDS?

On March 27th & 28th, PPI-SA staff took part in a 2 day HIV/AIDS capacity building workshop at Glenridge Church.  The workshop, run by PPI-SA partner Zoë-Life, was nothing new for most of our staff, as we have partnered and done similar workshops with them in the past. However, this year, Zoë- Life took a new, innovative approach to the HIV/AIDS issue by using content from Bridges of Hope and SABCOAH (South African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS).

Phumlani , a Zoe- life facilitator, leads a group discussion on HIV/AIDS transmission on day 2 of the workshop

Before delving into the HIV virus itself, Zoë-Life facilitator Christy-Joy Webster focused the session around the general idea that each of us as individuals has value, and the importance of appreciating our value. PPI-SA staff were asked to think about the future, and to create goals for their futures. The  focus was on what we needed to accomplish these goals, and also what might get in the way. Zoë-Life showed us that creating goals for yourself is one of the best ways to realize your own value and what you can accomplish in life.

Another activity we did to show importance of self value was in creating identity statements. We were asked to finish the sentence, “I am..” This was one of the most challenging exercises, as Zoë-Life pushed us to not just answer what we already think we are, but rather what we want to be, but still don’t believe about ourselves. It was an inspiring activity that helped everyone realize where we are now, and more importantly, what we want to be in the future.

You=Me may be a simplistic phrase, but it is deep in meaning.  You must not see yourself as lesser or better than any other individual. Seeing people as people, will allow us to realize our own value, while still seeing the value in others. It is the hope of Zoe-Life that people will embrace this idea, the concept of having self value. If you value yourself, and are selfish in the right aspects, you will be less likely to engage in risky behavior that will put your value in jeopardy.

As PPI-SA is primarily focusing on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in its life skills programmes, this workshop was a wonderful opportunity for our staff to get a refreshing take on the HIV/AIDS issue. Empowering our own staff to understand the importance of self value and individual goals will enhance their ability to be positive role models and teachers to the most important people in PPI-SA- our participants.

Zoë-Life will soon be offering free counseling and HIV testing to all of our PPI-SA staff. Words cannot explain how grateful we are for this opportunity, as it is so important to “know your status.” Thank you to our facilitators Christy-Joy and Phumlani, and to Zoë-Life, for continuing to innovate their curriculum and host these incredible workshops!

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by | November 22, 2011 · 3:33 pm

Circumcision + HIV = ???

Over the course of the past 5 years, advanced medical research through experimental trials has proven that male circumcision can reduce a man’s risk of becoming infected with HIV during heterosexual intercourse by up to 60 percent. This has lead to the World Health Organization and UNAIDS to recommend circumcision as a new form of HIV prevention. This week, PPI-SA’s Senior Life Skills Coordinator, Ntobeko Ngcamu, shares a very powerful story about his circumcision experience at McCord Hospital, who through PEPFAR, USAID and the South African Government, are offering free “same day” circumcision surgery for South African males.

For the past few years, the message was out. Everyone was talking about HIV & circumcision– clinics, schools and the radio (specifically Gagasi FM) was spreading the word about the opportunity for a free circumcision procedure at McCord Hospital in Durban. For the past 6 months, I was trying to find the strength to go through with the procedure. The thing that scared me the most was that you needed to complete an HIV testing and counselling session beforehand. Luckily, I had have been through this experience before with Zoe-Life, a PPI-SA partner, and their counsellors. My nervousness about going for testing comes from the fact that I live in the township of Umlazi, which has some of the highest rates of HIV infection, and that there is a “3-month window period” with current forms of HIV tests, meaning that if I were to contract HIV within the 3 month period of going for testing, it is likely that a positive result would not be displayed. In my opinion, this is also the thoughts and feelings of other South African males, preventing them from going to get circumcised.

As a part of my job as a Senior Life Skills Coordinator at PPI-SA, I was spreading the word about circumcision to our staff, coaches, participants and partner school personnel, while also discussing the topic with friends and family. I wanted to be able to educate people about the advantages of circumcision and be able to answer any questions they might have.

On November 7, 2011, I go to McCord Hospital and am instructed to sit in the Administrative Area with the 40 person limit in the waiting room.

I get there early because if I’m number 41, I won’t be able to go for surgery that day. I end up being number 40.

We fill in our personal biographical details. At this point, no one is talking to each other – it’s very quiet – you could hear a pin drop. We wait 45 minutes to an hour with no one speaking to one another, fearful of what is about to happen with our upcoming individual HIV counselling and testing session.

I then move to the reception area, waiting to go to the counselling session for an HIV test. Patients will go upstairs to proceed with the surgery (if negative), or out of the counselling room (if positive). If positive, the patient will then take a test to measure their “CD4 count” and come back in 7 days for the explanation of the results.

Next, I move to the “Theatre” waiting area. Orientation – We get a brief orientation explaining the advantages of circumcision and how to properly take care of yourself after the circumcision. I then went into the surgery, which lasted only 15-20 minutes after receiving the anaesthetic from the Doctor.

Once you’re done with circumcision, you get “review dates” to see that everything is going as planned after the procedure.

Review Date 1 – November 9th – I meet with the Doctor to make sure that the healing process is going as planned and the bandage is removed. All people that received the surgery that day are back together and individually consult with the surgeon. A person in the waiting room next to me shares the following:

“I can’t wait until I leave here and recover from surgery because now I’ll be able to go have sex with a woman that I love and she’ll be less likely to leave me and sleep with other men, because sex will feel better for her if I don’t wear a condom.”

Review Date 2 – November 14th – I meet with the Doctor individually again to makes sure everything is still going smoothly with the healing process. Overall, the process takes 6 weeks and I have two more visits scheduled with the doctor. A different patient shares the following:

“I can’t wait until I recover from surgery. Since the festive (holiday) season is approaching, I think I’ll be able to sleep with at least 10 different women over the next 2 months. Since I’ll be circumcised, I’m less worried about contracting HIV so I’m excited to have unprotected sex with as many women as I can, and more women will likely have sex with me now that I’m circumcised.”

There is significant room for improvement in what McCord Hospital, PEPFAR, USAID and the South African Government are trying to achieve with their mass circumcision initiative. People are not getting circumcised for the right reasons. In reality, based on people’s attitudes and perceptions from the government program, it is quite possible that the actual number of HIV infections could be higher than if nothing were done.

People need more information and it needs to be delivered in a proper manner. I suggest that during the waiting times in the Admin and Waiting Rooms, there can be educational workshops increasing the knowledge and awareness of the benefits of circumcision. There is no use delivering this message in an unprofessional way, 5-minutes before going in to the circumcision surgery, since our minds at the point are only thinking about what is about to take place with the surgeon’s scissors… A facilitator should educate the patients in a professional way, and then a group discussion could be had where everyone can have the opportunity to discuss their thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment. I think there would be a very positive impact on the patients if this happened.

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Ntobeko. We understand that this was a difficult story for you to share with the public, and doing so speaks volumes about your leadership. We hope that your story informs and inspires readers and all PPI stakeholders, encouraging them to make positive, responsible decisions for their own personal health!

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by | July 5, 2011 · 12:45 pm

Know Your Status: PPI-SA Staff Participates in HIV Voluntary Counselling & Testing

On June 7th & 8th, the entire PPI-SA staff participated in an HIV Voluntary Counselling & Testing session at Glenridge Community Church, through a PPI-SA partner, Zoë-Life. This followed a two-day HIV/AIDS & Wellness capacity building workshop through Zoë-Life, which was also attended by all 44 PPI-SA staff members (take a look at the blog from last year’s capacity building workshop and VCT session).

Coach Zanele, facilitating a Life Skills session, with support from Molweni Area Coordinator, Sifiso Mthembu.

During the Zoë-Life session, each PPI-SA employee had a 45-minute meeting with one of the three Zoë-Life counselors in which the counselors asked each staff member questions. Each staff member also had the opportunity to ask the counselors any questions they had, followed by an HIV/AIDS. Each staff member knew their results within five minutes of the test and emotional support was provided by Zoë-Life staff (and the PPI family) before, during and after the testing.

PPI's HIV Basics chart on display for Sizimiselle Primary School's participants during a Life Skills session.

As PPI-SA’s program is first and foremost an HIV/AIDS education and risk reduction program, it is important that each one of PPI-SA’s peer educators has the knowledge and capacity to deliver our Life Skills curriculum and provide answers to the critical questions participants might come up with. Sifiso Mthembu, PPI-SA’s Area Coordinator in Molweni, was very pleased with the both the Counseling & Testing session and workshop. He comments, “I’m very happy with the Zoë-Life training and Counseling and Testing session. It gave me and my Molweni coaches a lot of knowledge, not only for us, but to pass on to our kids during our Life Skills sessions.”

A huge thank you to Zoë-Life for providing these services to PPI-SA pro bono (again!), especially to each of the Zoë-Life counselors and staff that supported PPI-SA over the four days!

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by | May 17, 2011 · 2:31 pm

PPI-SA Staff and Coaches Improve their HIV and AIDS Knowledge

PPI-SA staff teaches primary school participants the HIV Basic Chart

This past week, our coaches and staff received an intensive, two-day educational training on HIV and AIDS. Our partner, Zoe-Life, started the training off with a breakdown of different types of wellness, then moved onto a biology breakdown of how the HIV virus attacks our bodies.  The next day we continued to learn more about HIV, including the final stage of the virus, AIDS, and treatment available for those who are HIV+.  We also learned the negative effects of stigma and stereotypes concerned with HIV and AIDS, and how popular it is to completely isolate someone who is HIV+ living in our Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

One of the more important aspects of the training was the freedom of discussion, which allowed our coaches and staff to ask questions about rumors and myths regarding HIV and AIDS.  The Zulu culture is rich in tradition and beliefs, including witchcraft and traditional medicine.  What often happens in rural and township settings is for someone who is HIV+ to see a, ‘songoma,’ (a traditional, Zulu doctor) who will prescribe an herbal remedy to help rid the body of the virus.  True, in the short term some of the symptoms of HIV, will appear to have been cured, but in reality, HIV is replicating a thousand times over in the body of the HIV+ person, simultaneously attacking the immune system and lessening our body’s defense system. Other myths were quelled (two HIV+ people CAN have a HIV- baby) while unfortunate happenings were confirmed (ARV’s are currently being used, in mix with other drugs, as a recreational drug called ‘wunga,’ taken the most among young adults).

Later the same day, some of our coaches and staff taught our high school participants on HIV basics.  Our coach was able to answer questions with confidence as he told our participants HIV is spread through unprotected sex, (one participant swore this was the only way), from mother to child, and from blood to blood contact.  Risky behavior increases our chances of coming in contact with infected fluid, including: blood, seamen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk.

Just as we at PPI-SA educate our participants, we do not tell them what to do.  Rather, we educate and give him or her choices to choose from, having taught our participants the benefits and consequences of his or her decision.

Thank you a thousand times over to Zoe-Life for once again, teaching our staff the HIV/AIDS basics in an effective and interactive two-day seminar.  We look forward to working with Zoe Life again when we arrange a testing day with private HIV/AIDS counseling and testing services for our coaches and staff.

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by | September 21, 2010 · 1:00 pm

HIV/AIDS Testing in South Africa: Practicing What We Preach

PPI - SA Senior Life Skills Coordinator Ntobeko Ngcamu was influential in organizing the testing event.

On September 8th & 9th, 32 (out of a total of 40) PeacePlayers International- South Africa coaches and staff members attended an HIV/AIDS Counseling & Testing Session held in partnership with Zoë-Life, a health development and training organization, at Glenridge Community Church.  One of PPI-SA’s main goals is to raise awareness in our participants – especially the teenagers in our Leadership Development Program – of the importance of knowing their HIV status. We assume that having been given basic information about the virus and the AIDS epidemic, and some encouragement to test, our participants will eagerly rush to the nearest health centre to get tested.  However, our experience with our own staff – the coaches and area coordinators who teach at our sites as well as their managers – has shown that testing for HIV can often be difficult even for those who know the benefits of it well.

During the Zoë-Life session, each PPI-SA employee had a 45-minute meeting with one of the three Zoë-Life counselors, in which counsellors asked participants questions, participants had the opportunity to ask the counsellors any questions they had as well, and an HIV/AIDS test was administered.  Each participant knew their results within five minutes of the test, and emotional support was provided by Zoë-Life staff before, during and after the testing.

PPI-SA Senior Life Skills Coordinator Ntobeko Ngcamu, who was crucial in the planning and coordination of the event, had the following to say about the session, “This was the first step of what PPI-SA is doing and I’m so proud to be a part of an organization that is making a positive impact in my  community.  To have such great participation from our staff and coaches is a dream come true and shows promise for a better tomorrow for South Africa.”

This entire experience presents some important lessons for those of us concerned with HIV/AIDS prevention, especially in  South Africa:

  • The subject of HIV is still taboo and difficult to feel comfortable about;
  • Knowledge of the need and benefits of testing alone is not enough to make people get tested – other factors like support and the right environment also count;
  • People respond differently to the concept of HIV testing, and may be ready to go ahead with it at different times;
  • It is important for us educators to undergo the process ourselves first before we can seek to convince others to do so, so that we may better understand any issues they may have that make them resistant to testing.  The old adage stays true – we must practice what we preach.

Thank you to Zoë-Life Managing Director and PPI-SA Board Member Neville Keenan, for providing the staff and resources (at zero cost to PPI-SA!) for the event and to Glenridge Community Church for lending the ideal venue. PPI-SA hopes to replicate the Counseling & Testing Event once each semester moving forward, so that each PPI-SA employee is able to make informed decisions in their daily lives and have the knowledge to educate their participants, peers, families and communities about HIV/AIDS.

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