SOULBATH PEACE FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
WORLD AIDS DAY
A WORKSHOP FOR HIV+ CHILDREN AND HIV+ MOTHERS
Children's questions - Why does my Mom keep falling ill? What is HIV?
Infected HIV+ children of infected mothers from the age group of 8 – 16 were part of this interaction. Soulbath Peace Foundation had an exclusive reach out initiative for young minds to question all that they wanted to ask about being HIV+ and what it meant for them and their families to live the HIV+ status.
Some children were worried for their mothers falling ill and visiting a special “drop in centre” for their treatment. They were confused as they cannot talk about this HIV status that is uncommon and is a taboo.
SPF reached out through the language of children using peer interaction to understand that language of love was a common expression though some children were shy and in a state of denial to even see what the status meant. This was more common in the teenage years especially for boys. Children were sensitized to the different routes for the infection and the need to live and feel normally at school and other environments.
Some mothers were a part of the interaction and a separate discussion with them focused on parenting issues. “My child does not want to go to school. I don’t know why?”
Usually in this segment, children are seeing their parents being affected by infections and weak bodies that create a sense of insecurity and hinders normal happy upbringing. Mothers were sensitized to their thoughts of being positive on the minds of their children and shown a roadmap to the world of the child. We often view the lives of the child through adult glasses. As a result, we have a more confused child who behaves like an adult and is dysfunctional with poor self esteem and belief in the nurturing way of life.
Fact note: The number of children infected with the HIV+ status is unknown as the mother to child infection is common in the womb and rates are extremely high.
Infected HIV+ children of infected mothers from the age group of 8 – 16 were part of this interaction. Soulbath Peace Foundation had an exclusive reach out initiative for young minds to question all that they wanted to ask about being HIV+ and what it meant for them and their families to live the HIV+ status.
Some children were worried for their mothers falling ill and visiting a special “drop in centre” for their treatment. They were confused as they cannot talk about this HIV status that is uncommon and is a taboo.
SPF reached out through the language of children using peer interaction to understand that language of love was a common expression though some children were shy and in a state of denial to even see what the status meant. This was more common in the teenage years especially for boys. Children were sensitized to the different routes for the infection and the need to live and feel normally at school and other environments.
Some mothers were a part of the interaction and a separate discussion with them focused on parenting issues. “My child does not want to go to school. I don’t know why?”
Usually in this segment, children are seeing their parents being affected by infections and weak bodies that create a sense of insecurity and hinders normal happy upbringing. Mothers were sensitized to their thoughts of being positive on the minds of their children and shown a roadmap to the world of the child. We often view the lives of the child through adult glasses. As a result, we have a more confused child who behaves like an adult and is dysfunctional with poor self esteem and belief in the nurturing way of life.
Fact note: The number of children infected with the HIV+ status is unknown as the mother to child infection is common in the womb and rates are extremely high.
Freedom to dream
In the eyes that stared back, there was fear of acceptance and love, thinking if we would smile back, half hidden smiles in the faces that should otherwise beam…indeed life will carry on….but leaving behind are footsteps with the children on our walk together, understanding that yes, we all have to carry on to another world …each one his way…but living a life like that at every moment was a choice that we have …from now….when we accept ourselves as mother and parents…..our children begin to smile with more freedom…freedom to be humans …freedom to express that they are normal and that they love to play as others….freedom to be accepted to become airhostesses and doctors….freedom to dream…a dream!
That afternoon, returning home after meeting all the lovely children and their lovely smiles, all the way I pondered on a poem -
“With looks that could kill; and that day, it did!
Those eyes wounded and left scars no one else could see.
I lay still, thinking,
It is just a matter of time,
And I will carry on.
Life has to carry on...”
- Extracted lines from the poem “Life has to carry on” by Sri Raj Bhowmik.
That afternoon, returning home after meeting all the lovely children and their lovely smiles, all the way I pondered on a poem -
“With looks that could kill; and that day, it did!
Those eyes wounded and left scars no one else could see.
I lay still, thinking,
It is just a matter of time,
And I will carry on.
Life has to carry on...”
- Extracted lines from the poem “Life has to carry on” by Sri Raj Bhowmik.
Soulbath Peace Foundation, Volunteer Voice:
First I would like to thank SPF and Sri Raj Bhowmik, for giving me an opportunity to take part in that activity.
I believe that any individual has ability, and should work with that ability to ensure they enjoy their work, if they do so the out put will be enormous. And this is very much required for the development of our nation. I also believe that only when each and every individual develops the nation will develop.
On the first day of the session, I was able to feel their anger. The question came to me is, -Why are they being the victims? What is the best we can do for them? What will happen to their kids? On the Second day, the only understanding that I had was I am going meet kids affected by HIV. But on seeing them I was totally speechless or in other words, I was frozen. Still I have not come out of that and I am thinking of what best I can do for them.
My special thanks to Sri Raj Bhowmik for this heart-touching opportunity.
- Anantha Krishnan (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant & Accenture employee)
I believe that any individual has ability, and should work with that ability to ensure they enjoy their work, if they do so the out put will be enormous. And this is very much required for the development of our nation. I also believe that only when each and every individual develops the nation will develop.
On the first day of the session, I was able to feel their anger. The question came to me is, -Why are they being the victims? What is the best we can do for them? What will happen to their kids? On the Second day, the only understanding that I had was I am going meet kids affected by HIV. But on seeing them I was totally speechless or in other words, I was frozen. Still I have not come out of that and I am thinking of what best I can do for them.
My special thanks to Sri Raj Bhowmik for this heart-touching opportunity.
- Anantha Krishnan (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant & Accenture employee)