Dear ###USER_name###,

In this issue of occasional newsletter, you will find information and report

I. International Reference Group (IRG) Meeting in Accra, Ghana

• Highlights from EHAIA Programme Executive
• Interview with Dr. Frits Van Der Hoeven

II. Updates from the Regions

• A tribute to Lynde Francis: 8^th Nov 1947 – 31^st March 2009
• We no longer stigmatize people living with HIV
• Femmes, Réalités culturelles et l’Infection à VIH
• Musasa Project in Harare host Men of Faith Communities in dialogue
• Caring men
• VORSI Congo HIV workshop with Canon Gideon Byamugisha
• Congratulations Brother Gideon
• Appreciation of WCC literature on HIV
• Collaboration with Rede Cristão in Mozambique

III. Partner Resource Highlights

• Church World Service (CWS) – Giving Hope

• Strategies for Hope Trust, Oxford, UK

Introduction – Nyambura Njoroge, EHAIA Programme Executive

Friends, supporters of EHAIA and those who deeply care for the wellbeing of Africa consistently want to know what kind of impact EHAIA is making through its many capacity building workshops, training of trainers and consultations with senior church leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa.

After being on the ground for the last seven years, we can humbly but confidently say that in the churches judgmental and stigmatizing attitudes and practices are reduced, dignity and hope of many HIV positive people are restored and lives are saved through the contribution of EHAIA. However, we are quick to remind our readers that sometimes it is hard to draw the line of EHAIA’s impact because we work with many other stakeholders both religious and secular who are doing a commendable job.

Certainly in the area of contextual biblical, theological and ethical reflection and literature EHAIA has provided significant leadership as this issue will try to demonstrate. Many of our participants acknowledge the importance of providing a learning ecumenical space that symbolizes the vision of “a transformed and life-giving church, embodying and thus proclaiming the abundant life to which we are called and capable of meeting the many challenges presented by the HIV pandemic”.

As a way of introduction to a sample of EHAIA’s impact meet Elika (not her real name). Elika is 35 years old HIV positive widow and a mother of two children, one of them HIV positive. Elika was given the opportunity to attend EHAIA workshop for Christian women leaders on sexual, gender-based violence and HIV pandemic outside her country in April this year. She returned home fired-up with new skills on facilitating Contextual Bible Study (CBS) methodology on sexual, gender-based violence and HIV pandemic. She also brought with her a manual on CBS and Gender-Based-Violence (FECCLAHA Publications 2007). Immediately she shared her experience with her support group of 25 women ranging from the age of 25 to 60 years, which meets once a week at a Salvation Army Church. Some of the members are HIV positive, others are HIV negative grandmothers raising orphaned grandchildren and some of the grandchildren are HIV positive.

After several contextual bible study sessions with her group, Elika writes: “The group through counseling has brought a very big change in families by bringing positive ideas and mind change to people living with HIV about their being alive and they have since been taking better care of their families and also taking HIV positive children to school which earlier was not being done”.

Elika went ahead and declared herself an Ecumenical HIV Advocate as she went out into the community targeting different groups with the message: “Lets Stop AIDS and Promote Support and Care.” Within three months she had reached 800 people. Later, Elika had the opportunity to attend a few more EHAIA sponsored activities after which she wrote to me and said: “Thank you so much for everything. I wish to study theology and be empowered like you!” Elika is a hairdresser by profession but her interaction with EHAIA she has come to discover that theological education is empowering and critical in what she is doing and what she can do as a self-declared Ecumenical HIV Advocate. She has already contacted a theological institution for admission laying out eight points why she wants to study theology. She has also articulated six issues she plans to do after her studies. In faith, Elika believes she will get financial support for her studies and is dreaming and hoping for greater things for herself, her children and especially her 11 years old HIV positive son and the slum community where she lives. Elika is intelligent, dedicated and courageous. Her live is being transformed together with others in her family and community.

If only we listen carefully and attentively, there are many people like Elika in Africa who are determined to be part of the solution and are critically aware that contextual and constructive theological reflection matters in overcoming the multilayered pandemics and crises embodied in HIV pandemic.

I. International Reference Group (IRG) Meeting in Accra, Ghana

Highlights from EHAIA Programme Executive

Briefly EHAIA was launched in April 2002, after several consultations and studies with key church leaders, theological educators, and HIV positive people and activists for a period of three years, which culminated with a global consultation on ecumenical response to HIV pandemic in Africa in November 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya.  EHAIA is based in Africa because all the programmatic work is based in several countries in sub-Sahara Africa and the vast majority of staff and resources are in Africa.  The primary line of program oversight, advice and implementation is done by 5 regional coordinators, 2 theological consultants, and 4 Regional Reference Groups (RRGs) and a majority of the members of the IRG are from Africa. A small office providing project coordination and support is based in Geneva, and EHAIA is an initiative of the WCC – programmatically and legally.  However, the ownership of EHAIA continues with three key actors in the response to the HIV pandemic: The African churches and ecumenical organizations in Africa; World Council of Churches and its member churches; the northern ecumenical agencies and churches and from 2008 forward, IRG strongly recommended that we recognize people living with HIV as the forth key “owner” of EHAIA.

The eighth International Reference Group (IRG) of EHAIA held its annual meeting in Accra, Ghana for three days (9-11 June). IRG serves as an advisory policy group to EHAIA staff and WCC general secretariat. It has 21 members drawn from a wide range of expertise and institutional and network representations. Three new members were received: Bishop Zebedee Masareka (from Uganda) who replaced Rev. Christo Greyling (South Africa) as Chair of ANERELA+ (African Network of Religious Leaders Living with HIV or Personally Affected) and Archbishop John Kivuli (Kenya) and Ms Mulenga Chilembwe (youth, and journalist from Zambia) both members of General Committee of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) who replaced AACC staff members.

In addition, IRG members welcomed the new Regional Coordinator for East Africa, Rev. Pauline Wanjiru NJIRU an ordained priest of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), Diocese of Kirinyaga, Kenya. Her professional career includes parish priest, diocesan development coordinator, educator and chaplain in a theological college. Pauline’s engagement and experience with Christian response to HIV and AIDS pandemic started in early 1990s when as a young priest in the parish she encountered parishioners living with HIV. Pauline started her ministry with EHAIA in Nairobi, Kenya on 1^st May 2009.

IRG members spent quality time reviewing and analyzing staff reports before discussing the way forward and how best to articulate EHAIA’s impact after seven years in operation. The members noted with concern the ongoing and simmering conflicts and rape being extensively used as a weapon of war with impunity. And that women and children are subjected to unimaginable degradation, humiliation as well as traumatizing and mutilating sexual violence, which are destroying whole communities. Under these conditions, the spread of HIV infection is greatly enhanced and this has serious long term implications to our society. The members also noted with alarm, the increasingly high rates of sexual violence, even in seemingly stable countries.On the other hand, the members acknowledged with gratitude the dedication of the staff for the many publications, training sessions, consultations and exchange learning programs organized with churches, councils, fellowships and theological institutions with meaningful involvement of people living with HIV towards HIV competent churches and theological institutions. They also noted with appreciation the increased staff focus on sexual and gender-based-violence and their link with HIV transmission and studies on transformed masculinities through Contextual Bible Study (CBS) methodology. The members observed that CBS methodology has increased the participation and involvement of men in search for solutions and has become a ‘wake-up call” to many Christians, churches and theological institutions of the deplorable impact of gender inequalities and injustice in people’s lives.Given this progress report, the IRG resolved to write separate letters to the general secretaries of WCC and All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) highlighting the disturbing trend requesting them to make public statement on the worsening situation in Africa and continue high level exposure, condemning all forms of sexual violence against women, men and children, until substantial progress is made.

In addition to appreciating staff contributions, the members also acknowledged the critical role played by the four Regional Reference Groups (RRGs) that accompany and constructively support the staff based in Africa as they implement the goal and objectives of EHAIA as well as nurturing the ownership of the ecumenical response to the global HIV pandemic among the churches, ecumenical and theological institutions. (Each regional group has an average of 11 members). As a result the IRG unanimously supported the request from the Lusophone (Portuguese speaking countries) region to create the fifth RRG rather than sending Lusophone representatives to the regional groups in Southern and West Africa. The members also strongly recommended documentation of EHAIA’s history and impact during the last seven years so as to help identify the achievements and gaps, which will assist in mapping the way forward. The documentation will take the place of evaluation which is due in 2010.

Finally, Dr. Frits van der Hoeven, the Chairperson of IRG since September 2002 stepped down. He was replaced by Ms. Astrid Berner-Rodoreda from Bread for the World. For the first time IRG appointed the Vice-Chairperson in the name of Rev. Godson Lawson from the Methodist Church in Togo. Godson like Frits attended the 2001 global consultation in Nairobi and has been the West Africa RRG representative from the beginning.       

Interview with Dr. Frits van der Hoeven

Ms Mulenga Chilembwe (MC), IRG member representing AACC, kindly accepted to interview Frits van der Hoeven, who to many of us in the IRG know him as a great story-teller!

MC: Dear Frits, I hope and pray that you are well. Am fine and my family is well. It was very nice to have met you during the IRG meeting in Accra Ghana. I was honored especially that you lived and worked in Zambia for the Zambians. I enjoyed your stories too especially the one where you deliberately left a present you were given. Thank you for accepting to respond to the questions below.

1. First things first, tell us about you? Who is Frits van der Hoeven?

I am Frits van der Hoeven, born in 1941. I studied medicine and specialized in tropical medicine. In 1971 I went with my family to Zambia, were I worked during nearly 7 years as medical officer i.c. in Chitambo hospital. This was a hospital built in memory of David Livingstone by the Church of Scotland. In 1966 the hospital was handed over to the Zambian government. Back in the Netherlands, I became eventually a public health consultant for the Protestant Churches in the Netherlands as well as for ICCO, the Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation. The first 10 years my focus was on Asia and from 1992 until 2005 back on Africa. I am retired since 2005, but still active. For instance as the chair of the Dutch Albert Schweitzer Foundation and various other interesting activities.

2.Tell us about your family? (e.g are you married? Do you have children? any grand children?)

I am married since 43 years with Marjolijn, we have two children, one girl (a medical doctor) and one boy (a biologist) and 4 grandchildren. A third child we lost in 1977 due to an accident at the seaside near Mombasa, the day we finally left Africa. He was buried the same day near the hospital in Musambweni, Kenya. In a way you could say that part of my heart is buried in the soil of Africa!

3. Which church do you belong to?

4. You have travelled around the world; tell us about your experience?

As a public health consultant I indeed travelled many times in Asia and Africa, to visit health related project and programmes. It was very exciting to see so many cultures, so many different people, all of whom, one way or another, tried to build their lives. I admired the many men and women who, often under very difficult circumstances, struggled to survive. I was impressed by their pride and dignity, though they lived in sheer poverty. I remember a woman in a very remote village in India, who, despite the fact that she had absolutely nothing to spare, offered me a glass of water – as if it was a glass of champagne!!

5. I understand you worked in one of the remote parts of Zambia for a number of years, tell us about that Frits?

To work in a very rural hospital is a big challenge. To deal with a wide range of medical problems under rather primitive circumstances required creativity, commitment and flexibility. In view of my limited experience to deal with the most serious medical complications, it was sometimes very difficult. Yet the knowledge that the local people hardly had any alternative, the nearest hospital was more than 400 kms away, motivated me to try my best. However, more and more I realized that the majority of the ailments and diseases were preventable, for instance through better sanitation and hygiene or better feeding practices. Therefore I started a nutrition rehabilitation centre where mothers with their malnourished children were trained how to improve the diet for their children and not to rely on all kinds of western- or traditional medicines. That, together with more than 20 for children under five clinics for vaccinations, growth monitoring and antenatal care, caused a steady decrease in the under five mortality. To have the chance to work in such a hospital meant a tremendous satisfaction for me, despite all frustrations one experienced on a daily base.

6. You have been working with EHAIA since its inception as Chairperson of IRG, tell us about this journey? What is your view on the issue of HIV and AIDS?

When I “returned” to Africa as a consultant in 1992, I got increasingly involved in the HIV and AIDS epidemic. ICCO as well as the churches supported more and more projects and initiatives in this field. The dimensions of this terrible epidemic became very clear, and the difficulty of many churches to deal with this problem was staggering. Stigmatization and discrimination were, and in many cases are, an enormous barrier. For countless people living with the virus, the doors of the church were closed. Yet, now more than 3 decades into the epidemic, many things have changed and it is marvelous how so many churches are now committed to support the struggle against HIV and AIDS, and have become a safe haven for an increasing number of people.

The most important thing to realize is that we have all the tools and solutions to bring this pandemic to an end. Yet, in many ways, we fail to implement them. The national and international community is hardly prepared to spend sufficient amount of money to organize the necessary programmes whether they are educational, prevention or on treatment. It is increasingly clear that world-wide poverty – worsening due to the global economic crisis – fuels the epidemic. Then there is a tendency to think that, with the availability of anti retro viral drugs on a large scale, the need for behavioral change is not necessary anymore. And finally many health workers, counselors and other committed people active in this struggle face a “burn-out”.

7. What are some of the challenges?

So the challenges are to remain active, to continue to raise awareness on a national and international scale, to continue prevention programmes, to guarantee the availability of reliable and affordable drugs, together with adequate healthcare and monitoring services and finally to fight any form of stigmatization and discrimination of those who are HIV positive or affected by the virus.

8. Talk about some of the major achievements?

Despite all these problems, we can say that a tremendous progress has been made. More and more people know the facts of HIV and AIDS, many have indeed changed their sexual behavior, millions of people living with HIV have access to drugs, stigma and discrimination are decreasing in large part due to the active involvement of those who live with the virus.

9. Where would you like to see EHAIA 3 years from now and what are some of the ideas you would like implemented if EHAIA is advance?

The strength of EHAIA has always been that it is a combined effort of churches and ecumenical organizations, both in Africa as well as in Europe and America, together with the WCC: a worldwide Christian response and commitment to deal with the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The focus on enabling the churches in Africa to respond in an appropriate way should remain for the coming years. The reason is that it is especially the churches; I quote Sue Parry, who “are an integral part of life in most societies throughout the world. They hold credibility with the people because of their presence at the grassroots [..] they have the largest constituency of people […] It is a massive resource waiting to be tapped.” This process is not finished yet, and the work of the regional coordinators, together with the theological consultants and the Regional Reference Groups is therefore vital and should continue. It is not the time for complacence.

10. Astrid Berner-Rodoreda took over from you as Chairperson of the IRG during the last meeting in Accra Ghana. How did it feel to handover the Chair and what message do you have for her?

The IRG is a wonderful group of people, each person with a unique experience, commitment and dedication. From all corners of Africa, Europe and America. An inspiring fellowship, which, I am convinced, contributes to EHAIA in a meaningful way. I will miss it; I will miss my friends and colleagues, the interaction with one and another, the exposure to the reality of the grassroots. Simply also the possibility to be in Africa. So in a way, handing over the Chair after 7 years was not easy. But I am convinced that Astrid in her own way will do a terrific job. My message would be: as Chair, and thus as IRG, make sure that EHAIA can continue its present course. The strength lies in the coalition, only together will we have an impact.

11. How would you like to be remembered in the EHAIA family?

The guy that loved Africa and had some nice stories to tell!

12 . What are your final words Frits?

Well I think I have said enough. One issue remains: I hope that the WCC will use EHAIA as a model for the churches in Asia. The wealth of experience EHAIA has built up in the past  years, beginning at the exciting Consultation in Nairobi in November 2001, should be used to help other churches to follow the same path.

MC: Thank you very much for your time Frits. Best regards and GOD bless!

II. Updates from the Regions

A tribute to Lynde Francis: 8^th Nov 1947 – 31^st March 2009

Sue Parry, Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa

Lynde was a member of EHAIA RRG Southern Africa, Southern Africa Regional Representative to the International Community of Women Living with HIV, a founding member of Pan African Treatment Activists Movement (PATAM) and Zimbabwe National Network of people living with HIV, board member of Women and AIDS Support Network, Cedes Trust, Country Coordinating Mechanism to the Global Fund, Zimbabwe Activists on HIV and AIDS (ZAHA).

Lynde Francis was the first person in Zimbabwe to openly declare her HIV status in 1986, at a time when little was understood about the virus and there was neither treatment nor support for those infected. Realising that there must be others in the same predicament as her, she courageously placed an advert in the national newspaper asking something to the effect: ‘HIV positive? Feeling alone? Want to talk to someone about it?’ and then provided her home telephone number.

As time went on her lounge became the meeting place for countless HIV+ persons feeling afraid, stigmatised, alone and not sure what next to do. The numbers outgrew her space and eventually a premises was sought which was to become ‘The Centre’- a landmark place of hope, psychological and practical support. There are few HIV+ people in Zimbabwe who do not know of Lynde or the Centre. Lynde was, amongst her many other talents, a nutritionist and she researched and used her depth of knowledge to help both herself and her fellow sufferers to control the replication of the virus by keeping the body’s immune system as functional and healthy as possible. It was a process of coexisting with the virus whilst keeping it in check. She shared her prodigious knowledge with all, teaching people how to grow natural plants, how to eat correctly through balancing types of foods, what to avoid and what to embrace. She became a courageous outspoken advocate for the rights of people living with HIV and she fought, not just for the greater involvement of people living with HIV but for their meaningful existence.

In time, The Centre became the first place where ARVs were freely distributed in Zimbabwe to those who needed them and a holistic lifestyle was encouraged. Her positive attitude was an enormous inspiration to so many, to never give up, to never lose hope and to reach out to others sharing a way of survival that brought quality of life. In 2002, I invited Lynde to join the Regional Reference Group of Southern Africa. Her response was warmly positive but smilingly she said: ‘I don’t know what I can contribute to that austere group of Bishops and religious people. I’m not even Christian.’ I responded that she lived the reality of HIV and as such her contribution would be enormous. Besides, there are some people that the Church has but God does not have, and then there are those that God has but the Church does not have!

She approached her first meeting with great trepidation but she was warmly received and her openness, compassion and wisdom were highly respected by all. She grew to love being part of the group, never missed a single meeting and through her, connected many HIV positive persons, including religious leaders, to EHAIA. About two years ago she confided in me: ‘Since being a part of the RRG, I have started to read the Bible and I am finding so much in it.’ Lynde walked the talk. After living with HIV for some 23 years, without ARV treatment, she finally suddenly took seriously ill with a brain tumour, followed by a ruptured ulcer and a stroke, slipping into a coma and she sadly passed away, just before the RRG meeting in April. The RRG members held a memorial service for her in Cape Town. There was deep sharing about the impact she had made on our lives and the lives of so many across the world. Her warm presence was felt with us. May she rest in peace and may her work continue, and remain, as a living tribute to her life of reliable, unconditional service to others– a person who inspired hope and gave others the courage to live truly positively.

We no longer stigmatize people living with HIV

Nyambura Njoroge

In February 2009, I visited two Pentecostal churches in Iganga district, Uganda. At Iwawu village, I listened to James Basalirwa ─ a trainer of trainers (ToT) at the Unity Church of Christ (UNICOC) ─ narrate their experiences and activities on how they participate in the mission of God to the world. Basalirwa was careful to outline their objectives, key activities, achievements, the number of children and people who benefit directly from their ministry, source of resources both human and financial, challenges, coping mechanism and way forward. When I asked him what he considers to be the greatest achievement and why he thinks they have been successful, without hesitation, he said: “We no longer stigmatize people living with  HIV. We used to do so through testimonies, songs and gestures. But today we do not stigmatize or discriminate anyone because dealing with HIV is not a project but ministry in the Christian community. The people we reach do not have to be members of our church but people in the community, the village.”

In a written report, Basalirwa listed other achievements: “built two permanent houses for widows and orphans, 14 widows and orphans have received blankets and 50 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) receive scholastic materials. We have formulated and implemented a church policy on HIV and we have successfully advocated for property rights of a widow and orphans. Lastly, five HIV clients confessed Jesus as Lord before their death as a fruit of care and support.” Just when I thought he had finished, Basalirwa asked Pastor Samuel Waiswa to share about Garner Amaranth Uganda Ltd.  Waiswa started by inquiring if I know grain Amaranth (in the village as I was growing up in Kenya we used the leaves as vegetables), which has high quality in proteins and is known to reduce malnutrition.

Through an interpreter, he explained how he discovered the grain and how at the beginning many Pentecostal Christians were not comfortable with the idea that natural plants have medicinal and healing qualities. Even though in July 2001, UNICOC started grain Amaranth growing, processing and marketing project, it was necessary to register the project in the name of Garner Amaranth Uganda Ltd in November 2007 so as to:

• Stand independent without bias of religion, politics, etc.
• Accommodate and attract all categories of people of different beliefs, values, interest and abilities
• Empower individuals and families enhance their abilities to meet their needs through knowledge and skills training to realize values, to transform people to become proactive and fight dependence syndrome.

Basalirwa acknowledged the wise leadership of the “wazee” (village and church elders), addressing himself to Bishop John Mbako, Pastor Waiswa and his wife Rose for enabling the community to discover that not every food in their diet has quality nutritional value, especially for people living with HIV. Waiswa and his team clearly demonstrated how they work to reach many families and villages with the ultimate aim of covering the whole of Uganda and beyond. His business acumen, visionary spirit and enduring patience and faith that a global organization like World Council of Churches should facilitate new opportunities for increased collaboration, partnerships and marketing make one believe that it is possible to end food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa.

Furthermore, my earlier encounter with children, women and pastors at the Christian Worship Centre Ministry, Budgewge village, was equally affirming that Christian community and pastoral action approaches have lasting outcomes and that it is important to connect local communities to the global discourse in overcoming HIV transmission. A HIV positive widow chocked with tears as she reflected on the care and support she has received from a Pentecostal Church yet she is a member of Roman Catholic Church. She is among the widows the pastors have advocated for her property rights through Legal Aid Uganda. In the same conversation, the women noted that the Christian Worship Centre Ministry reaches out even to Muslim women for care and support in the community. Overall, there was a common acknowledgement that much remains to be done on the area of human sexuality and African religio-cultural beliefs that hinder progress in individual and community life as well as upholding African values that build community and are life-giving to all.

Femmes, Réalités culturelles et l’Infection à VIH

Ayoko Bahun-Wilson, Regional Coordinator for West Africa

Les multiples facettes  que présente l’infection à VIH aujourd’hui en Afrique poussent les acteurs de la lutte à non seulement s’adapter aux nouveaux défis de l’infection mais aussi et surtout à s’engager dans une dynamique de contextralisation des effets de l’infection à partir des études de cas de la Bible.

C’est dans ce cadre que le Bureau Régional Afrique de l’ouest du programme EHAIA a organisé à l’intention des femmes venus de la Gambie, du Ghana, de la Sierra Leone, du Nigeria, du Kenya, de la Tanzanie et du Togo une rencontre sur l’Etude Contextuelle de la Bible, la Campagne de Tamar du 30 mars au 3 avril 2009 à l’hôtel St Martins, Dansoman, Ghana.

Cette rencontre a servi non seulement de renforcement des capacités des femmes en matière de lecture contextuelle des évènements bibliques à partir des situations de violence, de la négation de la dignité et de la liberté de la personne humaine à l’instar de la souffrance de TAMAR.

Les discussions et les questionnaires des participants à la Conférence ont permis d’identifier d’autres aspects culturels non moins importants de la souffrance et de la vulnérabilité de la femme vis-à-vis du VIH que sont le veuvage et les situations de divorce.

En effet vivre dans une situation de veuve ou de divorcée en Afrique de l’Ouest traduit une sorte de marginalisation de la femme. Non seulement la veuve est assimilée à la situation d’un  résident étranger et subit dans la plupart des cas des rituels qui lui imposent l’isolement, la réclusion, les services corporels, l’imposition d’un mari dont on ignore le statut sérologique et la privation des biens.

Pour faire face à cette situation, les participants au séminaire ont exploré des pistes de solution parmi lesquelles l’éducation au leadership. C’est-à-dire doter les femmes des outils nécessaires en matière de prise de décision d’affirmation de la personnalité, d’anticipation des évènements tout en maîtrisant les aléas de la communication dans les limites de ses capacités entreprises, surtout en matière de gestion de conflits liés à l’infection à VIH.

La rencontre a connu un moment très émouvant lorsqu’une participante veuve de son état a partagé sa souffrance pendant les moments du rituel de son veuvage. Ceci a permis à chacun et chacune  d’évaluer le risque que courent les femmes face au VIH.

Musasa Project in Harare host Men of Faith Communities in dialogue

Ezra Chitando, Theology Consultant

HIV and gender-based violence threaten the welfare of women, children and men. However, programmes to respond to these negative forces have tended to concentrate on women and children. Men have been left out of the picture. This has had the unfortunate result that men regard gender as “women’s issues” that have got nothing to do with them. The role and responsibility of men in responding to HIV and gender-based violence is therefore glossed over.

In collaboration with Musasa Project, an organization that caters for women survivors of gender based violence, EHAIA held an interfaith masculinities workshop to mobilize religious leaders from different communities of faith to respond to HIV and gender-based violence. The workshop was attended by religious leaders from African Traditional Religions, Christianity and Islam. Participants from Christianity included leaders from UDACIZA (Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe), Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC).

The workshop raised the following issues regarding working with men in the time of HIV: although women are the majority in most religious traditions, men continue to hold positions of power and influence; men retain control and power in most relationships and within faith communities; transformation will be more effective when men “buy into” gender justice; men need space to interact and express their vulnerabilities and working with boys is particularly important as they can grow up to become gender activists.

The workshop began with an overview of the expectations of the participants. Religious leaders from the various religious traditions stated their expectations. It became clear that most religious leaders have been acting in isolation and cherish the opportunity to interact with leaders from other religions. The recurrent response was that they sought to learn more about gender-based violence and HIV, and their possible role. The topics covered were as follows: HIV and AIDS: The Basic Facts; living with HIV as a religious leader; gender-based violence; socialization of the boy child; programmes for boys and men and mobilizing religious leaders for community transformation. Participants acknowledged the added-value of interfaith collaboration on HIV and gender-based violence as cross-pollination of ideas; strength in numbers; sharing of resources and responsibilities.

It was heartening to note the spirit of tolerance and openness amongst religious leaders. There was no competition or unfair criticism of other religions. In particular, traditional religious leaders were able to unmask the impression that they are conservative and less sophisticated. They articulated the role of traditional religion in responding to HIV and gender-based violence in a very convincing way. A few comments from the participants:

“I am now equipped with knowledge and want to impart the information to others.”

“I want to undergo voluntary counseling and testing for HIV.”

“If all the people had access to this information, the world and nation would be a better place.”

“Always invite Muslims whenever you hold workshops that affect humanity.”

“I felt that such workshops should be carried out time and again in order for us to build our communities.”

“We appreciate the published materials that were distributed during the workshop.”

There is an urgent need to deconstruct toxic or harmful masculinities in the time of HIV and gender-based violence. Religious leaders agreed that the abuse of sacred texts and traditions has given men power over women and girls. They undertook to become agents of transformation in their own communities. They expressed their gratitude to Musasa Project and the World Council of Churches for making the workshop a success. However, they expressed concern that in most instances, there would be no follow up to assess how they were faring as they sought to implement the new ideas.

Caring Men - Ezra Chitando

My ears of faith
Stretch for the sound
Of the arrival of caring men
My heart of faith
Yearns for men who care

My hands of faith anticipate
The gift of caring men
My eyes of faith
Search for men who care

My nose of faith senses
The aroma of caring men
My feet of faith propel me
Towards men who care

Sensitive men
Loving men
Inspired men
Humble men
Caring men.

This poem was composed during the 53^rd Commission on the Status of Women in New York, March 2009. The theme was, “The Equal Sharing of Responsibilities between Women and Men, Including Care-giving in the Context of HIV and AIDS.”

VORSI Congo HIV workshop with Canon Gideon Byamugisha

Hendrew Lusey, Regional Coordinator for Central Africa

VORSI Congo is an HIV related project that belongs to the “Communaute Baptist du Fleuve Congo”. Since Canon Gideon Byamugisha is currently working for Christian Aid that is the funding partner of VORSI Congo, he was invited to organise a national workshop on breaking the silence about HIV and to promote acceptance of HIV positive people as part of the community of faith in Kinshasa/DR Congo. In addition, he officially launched the campaign for the SAVE (Safer practices, Access to treatment and nutrition, Voluntary, Empowerment) model. Although, some workshop participants have heard many testimonies of people living with HIV, for many people, the workshop was an opportunity to witness a senior church leader who talks openly and positively about sexuality and his own HIV positive status without hesitations and complacency. He went on saying that during the first stages of HIV epidemic, many religious leaders condemned those infected with the virus, calling the illness a divine curse. This attitude has made HIV and AIDS shameful and a positive diagnostic difficult. Today, churches are called to show compassion and love towards those HIV positive people.

Congratulations Brother GIDEON

By now, many of our readers know that Canon Gideon Byamugisha was awarded the twenty-sixth Niwano Peace Prize on 7^th May 2009 in Toyko, Japan (http://www.npf.or.jp/english/index.html)  for his unfailing faithfulness in raising public awareness about HIV pandemic in a way that has brought distinction to religious and cultural communities in Uganda, across African continent and on global and ecumenical level. Canon Gideon has served as member of International Reference Group (IRG) and his video on “What Can I do? is a common feature in EHAIA training sessions. Indeed this is a great year for Canon Gideon and his family and friends. On 29^th August he will TURN 50! On behalf of EHAIA staff, IRG members and friends: Hongera – Congratulations Brother Gideon! We trust that God will give him many more years, good health, strength and courage to do what he has committed to do: help to overcome SSDDIM (stigma, shame, denial, discrimination, inaction and mis-action). 

Appreciation of WCC theological literature

Pastor Anthony Makena, Nairobi, Kenya

The following quotation must be a familiar one from a World Council Churches (WCC) study document called Facing AIDS: The Challenge, the Churches’ Response (1997 p.1-2).

If the churches are to fulfill their mission, they must recognize that HIV and AIDS bring the lives of many people into crisis and that it is a crisis which churches must face. The very relevance of the churches will be determined by their response. The crisis also challenges the churches to re-examine human conditions which in fact promote the pandemic and to sharpen their awareness of people’s inhumanity to one another, of broken relationships and unjust structures, and of their own complacency and complicity. HIV and AIDS is a sign of the times, calling us to see and understand.

This is one of the quotations I have used severally from the aforementioned book while training pastors from various denominations. This in particular was spoken to 130 pastors from Kibera (largest slum in Nairobi capital city of Kenya) who had congregated at the Nairobi Pentecostal Church, Woodley on the 1^st Dec 2008.

I was introduced to materials produced by the WCC by Elizabeth Kyalo, a former EHAIA staff in Nairobi Office. On the very first day I managed to carry many copies of ten different titles. Afterwards the training sessions took a different turning for the better because I was now able to equip each pastor with relevant materials. To date, I have trained over 419 pastors and church leaders. It is not a secret that stigma and discrimination are a big issue for a couple of reasons; 1) Pastors who are theologically trained but have viewed HIV and AIDS as a sin disease, and thus a just punishment from God to sinners, they have therefore not bothered to look up to the Word of God as a solution to many of our brothers and sisters who are afflicted by the pandemic. 2) Pastors who have no theological background and have equated HIV and AIDS to be a sign of the end times because of its lack of a cure, and thus taken a position of holier than thou with absolutely nothing to do with anyone who is infected. In one of the trainings, some pastors had the audacity to say that people who are infected, even from their own congregations should be banished to Garissa (in Northern Kenya, generally considered remote and underdeveloped) where they would be sent food. 3) A large proportion of pastors who are not trained at all on the very bare basics on HIV as a virus and AIDS as the syndrome. To them it is such a mystery but it must have something to do with sin because it is associated with sex.

With this kind of a scenario, the Church that is supposed to be the light and the salt of the world (Matthew 5: 13-16) has operated in the words of a commentator who said ‘the Church is the only army that kills its wounded soldiers’. This therefore explains my great joy when I found very precious printed  material because they have gone a long way to equip our pastors with easy to read and easy to understand publications that are biblically sound and user friendly. How does one conclude an expose of such great work as the one done by WCC in its publication of theologically sound materials relevant to our setting? May be the best way to conclude is to ask that we continue giving Hope, with clear reasons as the ones given in the following quote by Augustine of Hippo: “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”

Pastor Anthony Makena is the director of Hope Community VCT in Nairobi, Kenya. EHAIA is grateful to Pastor Makena for volunteering this report.

Collaboration with Rede Cristão contra HIV/SIDA in Mozambique

One of the greatest challenges EHAIA continues to face is to provide literature in the three operational languages English, French and Portuguese, let alone the high demand by many churches for literature in local languages. Given our growing collaboration with Strategies for Hope Trust, Oxford, UK in purchasing and distributing the Called to Care toolkit (which aims at printing 10 materials and 6 are already in circulation throughout the world), EHAIA embarked on sponsoring the translation of Nos.1, 2, 3 (Positive Voices edited by Gideon Byamugisha and Glen Williams: Making it Happen by Lucy Streinitz; and Time to Talk by James Tengatenga and Ann Bayley) into Portuguese (already translated to French). Glen Williams editor of Strategies for Hope Trust recommended that EHAIA commissions Rede Cristão contra HIV/SIDA (www.rchs.org.mz Christian HIV Network in Mozambique) to undertake the translation, printing and distribution work.

We are pleased that these materials are now in circulation since December 2008. Mr. Octavia Madunda, director of Rede Cristão supervised the translation, printing and ongoing distribution of the 3,000 copies sponsored by EHAIA. Octavia works closely with Deolinda Teca, Lusophone Regional Coordinator based in Luanda, Angola and Hope HIV Network in Angola and Christian HIV Network in Saõ Tomé to promote the materials. In May, Lusophone EHAIA office sponsored Octavia Mabunda and Dr.  Ernesto René, director of Hope HIV Network in Angola to organize a workshop in Saõ Tomé using these materials. In addition, Octavia combines the distribution of Canon Gideon Byamugisha video What Can I do? ('O Que Posso Fazer' in Portuguese) during the workshops.

Some of the other beneficiaries of these materials are 66 Pentecostal pastors who are members of the Council of Revival Church in Luanda in Angola who attended a workshop sponsored by EHAIA in March this year in Luanda. Despite inclement weather; Deolinda reported that the participants faithfully attended the three days workshop without fail. For most of the participants this was the first time to learn about HIV and AIDS. The workshop addressed facts about HIV and AIDS; issues of diseases in the Bible and the dimension of healing; concepts of stigma and discrimination; culture and religions in the era of HIV and AIDS; sexually transmitted infections; and sharing experiences on living positively. The perception of HIV and AIDS as the result of sin as well as punishment from God was deeply discussed. The immediate outcome was that three pastors agreed to be tested for HIV. 

III. Partners’ Resource Highlights

Church World Service (CWS) – Giving Hope

Are you having difficulties reaching and empowering the youth? I have good news for you. One of our faithful and consistent partners Church World Service, a cooperative ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations in the United States (US), recently released An Animator’s Guidebook to the Giving Hope Empowerment Methodology. This is an Animator’s programmatic guide to facilitating youth caregiver solidarity and empowerment. It promotes a restoration of relationships, structures and routines in youth caregivers’ lives, which begins with the formation of youth caregiver and working groups; and it promotes a recognition of youth caregivers’ existing assets, which leads to the creation of youth working group dreams.  

Contact Details: Eastern Africa and Indian Ocean Regional Office, P. O Box 14176-00800, Nairobi, Kenya. Telephone: +254 (20) 4440652, +254 (20) 4442204; Cell: +254 (0) 720723354; Email: info@cwsea.org and website: www.cwsea.org or www.churchworldservice.org

Strategies for Hope Trust, Oxford, UK

A few months ago, Strategies for Hope Trust released on its website 14 audio tapes on HIV, Women and Motherhood www.stratshope.org/d-audio.htm

These tapes are now available on a new audio project CD Rom from the Salamander Trust

www.salamandertrust.net

This project explores the many and complex issues facing women living with HIV in relation to motherhood. Alice Welbourn, author of Strategies for Hope publication Stepping Stones, and herself a mother and living with HIV, together with radio producer Rosemary Hill, recorded interviews with 12 HIV-positive women from all over the world who are either mothers or want to become mothers. Each describes how she learned of her diagnosis, what she has done with her life since then and offers policy recommendations related to her experiences. Some of their experiences were deeply traumatic and many have faced prejudice and stigma. But each of them displays courage, resilience and a desire to change the world.We also interviewed two key international advocates for women’s rights, Hon. Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland) and Dr Musimbi Kanyoro (Director, Population Programme, the Packard Foundation).

The 14 interviews together (around 12 hours interview time altogether) contain many important lessons for law and policy makers, health practitioners, media reporters, faith-based organisations and law enforcers alike.