Releasing potential: fighting HIV and AIDS in Namibia
HIV and AIDS have a debilitating effect on Namibian society, threatening to impede its development and leave entire generations without the education and skills they need to build a better future. Even though a quarter of the population is infected, a profound lack of awareness still persists. VSO volunteer Martijn Whien brings energy, organisational development expertise and an open mind to this challenging situation.
Spreading the word
I work for Y2Y, an organisation fighting HIV and AIDS in the Kavango region. My colleagues are all young and very enthusiastic, and, as is common practice for many unemployed youngsters in Namibia, they work at Y2Y voluntarily. The professional experience gained serves as a stepping-stone to other, hopefully paid, jobs.
Y2Y’s objectives are to educate 12–25 year-olds about HIV and AIDS. “We do this by visiting schools, hosting peer-to-peer sessions and going into communities to perform plays – a powerful tool due to the high rate of illiteracy,” explains Martijn. “This is essential as HIV and AIDS is a huge problem in Namibia. Approximately 25 per cent of the population – 40 per cent in the Kavango region – is infected and it has a debilitating effect on future progress. Although daily life is heavily affected by the disease, most people here live as though they don’t have a care in the world.
Gaining a fresh perspective
“So far it’s been a blast to be here,” says Martijn. “I love interacting with the locals as they are so friendly and laugh a lot. The standard of living is relatively high but it can vary greatly from place to place. Namibia is the country with the biggest gap between highest and lowest incomes. I try not to focus on these differences as the locals don’t seem to mind too much and live together amicably. For me, it’s an opportunity to see the world from a different perspective and challenge some of my preconceptions.”
Martijn has also made friends in the volunteer community. “There’s a great group of international volunteers here,” he says. “We meet up regularly and go camping, have dinner or organise movie nights. It’s interesting to see how easily you feel drawn to fellow strangers when coming into a new environment. We go through the same things and enjoy sharing our experiences. My time here has only just begun but I recommend volunteering with VSO. It’s an unforgettable experience and I know it has already changed my life.”
Challenge
Even though a quarter of the population of Namibia is living with HIV and AIDS, there is still a lack of awareness.
Catalyst
Working with NGO Youth 2 Youth, VSO volunteer Martijn Whien teaches HIV and AIDS prevention to the young people of the Kavango region.
Result
Tapping into the remarkable enthusiasm of the people he works with, Martijn is helping Namibia to recover from a debilitating epidemic.
