PEER SUCCESS STORY: CLARA
For many decades, HIV has been a silent pandemic in our communities. Community members are more often than not shy and hesitant to speak about issues surrounding HIV as it is viewed as a sensitive topic. As an organization we were able to identify this gap and came up with a solution that involved training individuals within the community who would be champions of behavior change. Clara Vugutsa, a youth in Mukuru, was among the 40 people that were able to be selected to be part of the training which would qualify her to be a peer counsellor.
A photo of Clara, YOVI peer counsellor.
According to Clara, the training was very transformative. “It equipped me with not only accurate information about HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, but also with crucial communication and counselling skills” She added.
Clara, who has been creating awareness in Mukuru or the last four years shared that the first step she took after the training was to create a safe space for girls and young women to come and discuss issues around HIV prevention, its causes and management. She reported that one strategy that has worked for her was organizing small group discussions in the community, using relatable stories and simple language to break down complex medical information. Through the sessions she was able to train herself how to listen with empathy and address any misinformation that her session participants may have with sensitivity and respect.
A photo showing Clara raising awareness in a health facility.
Through her interactions with community members, she has been able to reach over 2000 people with behavior change messages. She achieved this through home visits, talking to different organized groups in the community and also visiting hospitals. Clara confirms that although all the positive change stories encourage her, there is one that stands out for her till date: “ Due to my awareness creation activities in the community I have become a trusted point of contact and on one particular evening, a young woman approached me and confessed that she had engaged in activities that could have exposed her to HIV and was terrified to get tested, fearing the stigma and unsure of what the future held.”
Clara spent hours with her, listening to her fears, providing accurate information, and offering unwavering support. The young lady eventually got tested, and with Clara’s continued guidance, she accessed the necessary treatment and support.
Clara has dedicated her time to just going beyond information sharing to becoming a champion of change in her community. Her efforts have had a contribution to decreased stigma against HIV and youths seeking testing and treatment services in the healthcare facilities in Mukuru.
