Being HIV positive had a very big impact on my life. Physically, I’m always tired and I’m not working any more. I quit my job because I got swellings and always felt dizzy. I only receive a Child Support Grant and can’t look after my children the way I want to. Despite his promises, I don’t get any maintenance from my children’s father. I don’t feel like taking Pieter to court for maintenance because it will be too tiring and humiliating for me

In my family life it’s also very bad. I don’t know of anyone else in my family that has the virus. My mother does not want to bath in the same bath as me, so I had to buy a small plastic basin for me to wash in. One day I drank coffee with another lady, but when she heard I had the virus, she threw away the cup I drank from

I’m not on ARVs yet because the last time the doctor checked, my CD4 count was still all right. I do have to take vitamins which I have to get from the Paarl Provincial Hospital. Right now I don’t know what my CD4 count is because I have not been to the hospital as I have to use a taxi to get there and I have not had the taxi fare recently to go there.

A difficulty for me is that I’m without employment and that I have to deal with the hurt and pain that my partnerd has left me for another woman. But I am very proud to be a HealthResource Agent for Women on Farms Project. The love and support from  other group members means so much to me. After myrejected me, I felt I have no one to talk to or someone that makes me feel special. But I have found a new family. My fellow Resource Agents have been my joy, my strength and my family, a home where I feel safe just to be me.

Working with other Resource Agents has created a space where women could start to challenge their own perceptions and realise that they have the ability and strength to change their situations.  We have also had the privilege within the Programme to see women move from being Resource Agents to becoming staff of WFP.

SHARON MESSINA: FROM RESOURCE AGENT TO PROGRAMME ASSISTANT

My interest in HIV/AIDS started when I was a Grade R-teacher in a farming community. Seeing so many children getting sick and suffering from different diseases, I really wanted to do something to change their situation.

I enrolled in an HIV/AIDS course in Early Childhood Development which was presented by Cotlands (a sanctuary for children living with HIV/AIDS.) My eyes were opened to a different kind of world and I realised that this was my interest and in doing my bit; I can help bring about change. After a few courses, I was enabled to deliver speeches in school and in the community about HIV/AIDS. That started to bring a change in the community because more parents would come forward and talk about their children’s illnesses.

Due to a number of problems that were experienced, the school closed down. After a while of being at home, I became part of what was called the “Women’s group” in Klapmuts. They formed part of Women on Farms Project and dealt with issues women face. Because my interest was in HIV/AIDS, I became part of the Women’s Health Programme. I always found joy in that group and always looked forward to the next gathering or public awareness programme. I became a Resource Agent for the programme in 2001. As an RA, my responsibility was to attend the training workshops and bring the information back to my community.

In May 2005, I was employed as the Women’s Health Programme Officer. When I was an RA, I was employed by an organisation called @Heart (Stellenbosch Aids Action) as a Community Counsellor. I used my resources in both organisations to link up with my community work. I appreciated that WFP validated my work as an RA by employing me.. Being empowered in different health issues, I can now help bring change in more people’s lives and in more areas than just the community where I live.