The Chanzi Fellowship
This is a Faith Based Organization of people living with HIV/AIDS that have formed a group to teach their communities on positive living with the virus. The group has been in existence for four years now and has become a positive force in the local community.
Group therapy sessions
These are therapy sessions where people living with HIV/AIDS meet to discuss their lives and how they can live positively with HIV/AIDS. On average 27 people attend these sessions every month with more women about 20 per month as opposed to men. The sessions have assisted many people living with HIV to live with a renewed hope.
Most men are shy to come up in the open to declare their status and share with colleagues, but attitudes are slowly changing.
Outreach programme
People living with HIV/AIDS go out to various villages to teach the community about prevention, care and support. These visits take place twice a month. The group is involved in drama, songs and dance to attract the audience. They also give testimonies of their own lives. Major topics include importance
of voluntary counseling and testing, Anti retro viral drugs, Positive living with HIV, nutrition for better living and other coping mechanisms.
Children’s corner
Chanzi registered 104 children of which 80 are orphans who meet on a weekly basis. The aim of the children’s corner is to reduce trauma for children that have lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS. Children participate in memory book sessions where they write about themselves and their lives.
