The ten winners of the Nata Website essay contest sat in the front of the entire school and received lots of accolades and appreciation. We thought you might want to hear more about how 6th and 7th grade students feel about the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Below are excerpts from some of the winning essays. It was at times a very heartbreaking experience to read about their experiences.
Segopotso writes: HIV/AIDS plays a major role in destroying Botswana's future by killing energetic people that can develop or work for our country. As you walk there is AIDS, when we eat there is AIDS, and as you laugh there is AIDS. I sometimes don't know what to do as I'm so afraid of this disease. So, you have to pray on God. Gaopalelwe writes: In fact, it's not a case of how it can affect my life, it already has affected my life and still affects and will always affect my life. We all know and we all see. For as long as it killed someone, it can kill me. As long as it made one an orphan it can make me one. We all know. Obakeng writes: I can be affected by sleeping with many different people or drinking beers in the bars. People can take advantage by using my body if I overdose on the beers. It is better for me to take my life serious by not having sex with many people and stay away from the bars. Samuel writes: I am losing my teachers though sickness and death and it means me and my fellow pupils are affected at school. Everybody's health styles has changed including mine. When playing with other kids I have to be more careful to avoid accidental contact with blood in case they are injured and I try to help them. I can't contact the blood with bare hands. I have friends with AIDS but I know they can not affect me by eating with them, hugging them and playing with them. I encourage other youth to fight stigma among people infected with HIV. Caring for the sick neighbors and relatives is very agonising and stressful to me.
Comments