On December 1, St. Monica Village in Nyabondo, Kenya, was ablaze with color as the community celebrated World AIDS Day. Around 900 widows gathered to mark the occasion. It was a day of reflection, mutual encouragement, and solidarity – an important event for many women who themselves are living with HIV/AIDS.
“For many years, we have been meeting on World AIDS Day to commemorate our relatives, husbands, or children who have died of HIV/AIDS. This day is celebrated worldwide, and we join others in doing so,” explains Rhoda Ogada, manager of the widows’ cooperative. World AIDS Day has been observed annually since 1988 and calls for solidarity with those affected, combating discrimination, and remembering the deceased. Western Kenya is one of the regions most affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya: one in five people is infected. A large proportion of the women organized in the widows’ cooperative and their family members are also affected.
The day in Nyabondo was a complete success: “More widows than usual attended this year’s World AIDS Day, and the food was delicious,” reports Rhoda. Each widow received a small gift – one kilogram of sugar – which was distributed as a symbol of community and gratitude.
In addition to the celebrations, the focus was also on education and support: the four psychological counselors held talks with 24 widows and three young people to help them deal with HIV/AIDS. Rhoda emphasizes: “This is a very important day because most of us are HIV-positive and some of us, our children and grandchildren are living with HIV. We remember our relatives who have died of AIDS and encourage each other to take our medication, exercise, and eat a balanced diet. It’s not a death sentence – life must go on.”
Dentists for Africa has been supporting the women for many years – for example, by financing health insurance, training courses, seminars, and the Witwendorf kindergarten. The aim is not only to provide the widows with medical care, but also to strengthen their independence and rights as women.
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By participating in our Christmas raffle, you too can make a difference: every charity voucher supports the women of the widows’ cooperative and orphaned children in need. Together we can create opportunities – give the gift of hope and the chance to live a self-determined life!