Play Day

This Saturday we had Play Day at the Faraja home based department. The play program has been running since the beginning of YCI's partnership with Faraja trust fund. The play program strives to ensure that children living with HIV/AIDs have a safe and accessible space in which to play and be creative. As we all know, playing is an essential part of childhood development and at Play Program we aim to give children a positive and stigma-free environment for creavity, energy, and fun.

So from 9am to 1pm, us four girls were given the task of arranging games and activites for a potential 122 children aged 2-17. Although we did not have a full capacity, we still managed to entertain a good 80 or so kids. For those of you trying to picture this in your mind, let me throw you some key words: chaos, screaming, yelling, crying, running, laughing, soccer,basketball, jumprope, bowling, puzzles, crayons, playdoh, duckduckgoose,reading, drawing,punching,kicking,music, pinethetaleonthedonkey,dressup,telephone,tag...36degrees celsius.
Although I sustained minor injuries, (ie getting kicked in the head, pulled hair, peed on, and bitten twice), this has been one of the most eye opening experiences for me thus far. Every single one of these children were HIV+ and many will not make it to their 15th birthday, let alone 20th. In fact, two children who were at the last play day on January 31st have since passed.
What does HIV/AIDS look like to you? I dont think a single person could pick one of those children out from a crowd and say "Watch out- that kid has AIDS." The stigma these children have experienced from almost birth is enough to rob them of their innocence. At school, they're often shunned- no one wants to play wit the kid who has aids. For these kids to have at least one day a month where they can gather and play with no harassement, no worries, no judgement, this makes sucha difference in their livelihood. Everychild desereves the right to play, be loved, be picked up and hugged, just do know that they're supecial.

As chaotic, loud, and overwhelming as 80 children in 36degree weather was, I will never forget the hundreds of hugs and thousands of smiles I experienced that day. I encourage you all to do your part: reduce the stigma behind HIV and AIDS. HIV is not a death sentence: You cannot get it from touching an infected person, using the same toilet seats, mosquito bites, kissing, or drinking from the same cup. Ignorance is the biggest killer.