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| Kgowe "Philip" Moleme |
I spent a good part of this morning talking with Kgowe “Philip” Moleme, the worker in Matlosane Diocese in the Siyafundisa programme. Philip is a kind, compassionate young man with a keen sense that this is what God has called him to do. He has the big and challenging job of working to help educate young people (age 12-24) throughout Matlosane diocese about HIV/AIDS and about how to make wise choices with regard, to drugs, alcohol, sex, gangs, lifestyle etc.
“Siyafundisa” means “teaching” or “we are learning” and the programme is one which was set up by the Anglican Church in the Province of Southern Africa in 2006, using funding from the US government’s PEPFAR initiative to work on HIV/AIDS education and prevention. When this funding stopped, Lichfield Diocese offered to take on Philip’s funding until May 2013.(This was done through individual donations and the Bishop of Lichfield’s Lent Appeal).
Philip patiently answered my questions and explained how he was going about the job. His vivid pink T shirt boldy read “Hello, I’m awesome!”
However, Philip is a lot more humble that his T shirt logo would suggest. Given that Matlosane is 4 times the size of Lichfield Diocese and he does not have a car (!) I would say his commitment to his role is little short of heroic. But Philip would not see it like that. He calmly talks about the calmly talked about the job of preparing his week to allow for the fact that he will have to hitch hike to the next parish he needed to visit. Sometimes taking up to 8 hours! “If it is a truck it will be slow,” he commented. I suggested that we pray for more lifts in a fast Mercedes to cut down his journey time.
[I have recorded a video interview with Philip which I hope to put in the blog or youtube when I get back to the UK for those who are interested… watch this space please.]
The week for Philip hinges around the weekend, when the school students whom he needs to reach are available. He has a network of peer educators in each parish, some of whom will be based in more rural locations where the church has outstations. They will come together to meet with Philip on the Saturday on which he visits their church. They will have discussions and activities to highlight the pressures which they face and how they can make wise choices in their life – not giving in to bad peer pressure. Philip will train and encourage them and in turn they will be able to train the young people connected to the church. Then on a Sunday, Philip will attend the church they are linked to, to ask parents to support them as they try to choose good paths, and encourage the young people to find their role and voice in the church. This means that he can work with the local priest to help the young people too. Often Philip will be able to visit the High School which the young people attend, with the support of the Principal, and use time in school to help all the young people in the area, not just those with a connection to the Anglican Church. I could see that Siyafundisa works on many levels.
The week for Philip hinges around the weekend, when the school students whom he needs to reach are available. He has a network of peer educators in each parish, some of whom will be based in more rural locations where the church has outstations. They will come together to meet with Philip on the Saturday on which he visits their church. They will have discussions and activities to highlight the pressures which they face and how they can make wise choices in their life – not giving in to bad peer pressure. Philip will train and encourage them and in turn they will be able to train the young people connected to the church. Then on a Sunday, Philip will attend the church they are linked to, to ask parents to support them as they try to choose good paths, and encourage the young people to find their role and voice in the church. This means that he can work with the local priest to help the young people too. Often Philip will be able to visit the High School which the young people attend, with the support of the Principal, and use time in school to help all the young people in the area, not just those with a connection to the Anglican Church. I could see that Siyafundisa works on many levels.
Philip explained how Siyafundisa helped young people in the church to live out their faith in the decisions that make, in a world which is rapidly changing and full of all the temptations and pressures which young people in other cultures face. He uses facebook to connect and suppor the young people in the different areas so that they do not feel so isolated when making good decisions can be lonely and hard. He also uses the Diocesan Youth Events (once a year) to support the young people and is himself supported by Father Dennis Lukuleni, the chaplain to young people.
I was saddened and surprised to hear from Philip that in these areas HIV infection is still rising. As I spoke with him, the scale and scope of his task seemed so large as to be silly. But he was able to look at it another way, “If I can save on person’s future, then I have done a good job,” he cheerfully commented. This is not blind optimism, he has stories of young people speaking up with one another in meetings saying how the support through Siyafundisa is making a difference to them.
I was saddened and surprised to hear from Philip that in these areas HIV infection is still rising. As I spoke with him, the scale and scope of his task seemed so large as to be silly. But he was able to look at it another way, “If I can save on person’s future, then I have done a good job,” he cheerfully commented. This is not blind optimism, he has stories of young people speaking up with one another in meetings saying how the support through Siyafundisa is making a difference to them.
There are other paths of support for those affected HIV/AIDS in this diocese, and I hope to meet some of the people involved while I am here. I am so glad to have met Philip, to hear how he feels called to this work and how he is cheerful as he goes about a vast and challenging task. When I asked Philip how we could pray for him and his work he was thoughtful… but replied,
1. That everyone in the area would in some way be affected by the Siyafundisa
programme
2. That God would grow in him the gifts of teaching and motivation which he needs to do
the work
Please do pray for Philip and the Siyafundisa programme if you are able to.
It seems that the challenges and risks which young people face today, do not know cultural boundaries….they just change shape when they those boundaries are crossed. Here, the high rates of unemployment, and legacy of injustice from the apartheid era are like open sores which can be exploited by HIV/AIDS and the other well known dangers facing young people.
The dangers for young people in other cultures are sometimes less obvious. Sometimes the consequences are hidden by a social security safety net, or perhaps they are like time bombs with a longer fuse. Whatever the case, it is refreshing to see this programme in South Africa which has plenty of social problem to wrestle with. Siyafundisa, is a defiant act by the church in Matlosane (and Lichfield through its sponsorship) which says that there is hope. Hope in the gospel that things will change and be turned around. Hope that God’s Holy Spirit will give young people strength to live differently- And with Philip- that hope comes to visit, is determined… and is prepared to hitch hike!
Yours (hopefully),(ie full of hope)
Richard
PS I will spend a good portion of tomorrow on a Citibug Mini Bus travelling back to be with Rose, Andrew and Sam. We will then all return to Matlosane on Thursday 16th Feb. There probably won’t be a new blog posting till then. But you may like to see things from Andrew’s (10) and Sam’s (9) point of view in their blog (as well as this one) when we return. They are at…
www.westywords.blogspot.com
www.westywords.blogspot.com
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