Vicki's+Story

media type="custom" key="18679928" May 20th, 2011

I was first approached to give a presentation about HIV/AIDS to our school psychologists in the early fall. Having the vaguest idea of what they were expecting, I prepared a presentation about what resources Peace Corps and Pepfar could provide in education, grants, camps, etc. The promised translator was overwhelmed but my last minute, albeit poor, translations served me well and the group was pretty excited at my attempt. It seemed a success, but I began to feel it was hopeless as weeks rolled by without any word. In December, I brought the Pepfar training application to Elena and was told on the spot that she would be going. Ok!

It was apparent, how moved Elena, our lead school psychologist, was during the February training. Before the end of the week, she knew what she wanted, and what she and especially I, would do. On the train ride home, ideas and plans rolled around in her mind. We would train the rayon psychologists and students from the three town schools. And she would ask her friend’s son, a member of a local band, to headline a concert following the annual Candlelight Memorial March.

On our return, we reported to the rayon psychologists at their monthly meeting. The first question was, “Why didn’t you tell me about the training so I could go?” We talked about our plans for a training. Nothing moved forward. When one of our village schools, with their own youth development volunteer, scheduled their own training we were suddenly negotiating our schedule too. Two days here and another day in the village. It happened! The students from our town schools became the core of our May event.

Elena, however, was called away and wouldn’t be available for the event. What would happen without this incredible catalyst to organize, plan and direct? Everything! The concern and enthusiasm that Elena brought back from Pepfar had taken hold and students, psychologists, teachers and staff from the schools as well as staff from the House of Culture, band members and administration organized an event unlike the town had ever seen. We had marchers, dancers, readers. We had soloists and a group of teacher/singers. (Next year I want in on that!) Teachers from throughout the rayon brought their students. The band, Triad, was terrific and the DJ even played one Rolling Stones number, just for me. Despite Elena’s promise that I would do all the work, I was given only minor tasks. I wanted to do more, but it wasn’t my event, it was theirs. And, that is the whole point.

Elena’s plans are to build on this interest and create a student led group of volunteers promoting prevention and behavior change in schools throughout the rayon as well as the community at large. We’ve recently learned that our VAST grant has been approved and students will have five days of workshops during their fall break to kick-off this effort.