For adolescents living with HIV, there are not only physical challenges, but the disease takes both a mental and emotional toll on a daily basis. There is an ongoing need for specialized care and support for this growing population. The Texas Children’s Global Health Network was created by the Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatrics AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) to provide pediatric HIV care and treatment and is now one of the largest providers of these services in the world.
The Network has created and instituted a number of programs to support this special group. The peer support group, Teen Club, was created to empower HIV-positive adolescents to build positive relationships, improve their self-esteem and acquire life skills through peer mentorship, adult role-modeling and structured activities, ultimately leading to improved clinical and mental health outcomes, as well as a healthy transition into adulthood.
Teen Club events include large group games, drama/theatre activities, pool parties, safaris, sports and art sessions. Educational components – including topics on HIV education, disclosure, adherence, life skills, college preparation, personal finance management and goal-setting – are incorporated as well.
“I’m so proud to be part of this team helping these adolescents living with HIV around the world cope with this disease,” said Winner Elimwaria, adolescent program coordinator at Baylor Foundation Tanzania. “We want to do everything we can to help them adjust to life with HIV and feel normal, while providing both the psychosocial support needed and the necessary skills to help them thrive in daily life.”
While there are many Teen Clubs in existence two have recently seen incredible growth and success by providing programs tailored to their populations.
In Lesotho, an enclaved country surrounded entirely by South Africa, the Teen Club, founded in 2008, has been growing by leaps and bounds starting with 40 members to now more than 470 in the capital Maseru alone, with an additional 450 nationwide in the six satellite Teen Club sites. The club provides mentorship, development of life skills and leadership abilities while also focusing heavily on how to cope with HIV. When members age out of Teen Club, they can move on to Wise Ones Youth Group for ages 18-25, so they can transition into becoming responsible adults.
The Lesotho Teen Club not only benefits from the expertise of the Baylor Foundation staff members, it’s blessed to have volunteers give back to the program with their time and attention, many of who are now in the Wise Ones Youth Group.
In Tanzania, a country in East Africa, their Teen Club has created some specialized groups, including the Tanzanite Girls. In this group, adolescent girls have the opportunity to participate in sessions around life skills, self-awareness, gender-based violence and violence against children, puberty, hygiene, children’s rights and the consequences of early pregnancy. They also have programs to teach sewing and beading to help adolescents learn skills to generate income and support themselves. Benki Yetu (Our Bank) is a peer-led program where adolescents learn financial management skills.
Adolescents can join Baylor Foundation Tanzania’s peer educator program where they can help fellow adolescents with HIV through education, counseling and mentoring. In recent years, they have reached more than 600 adolescents with either educational sessions or counseling and more than 150 with reproductive health educational sessions.
The ongoing support from BIPAI and the surrounding communities will help the Texas Children’s Global Health Network continue to serve the needs of this special community. For more information, please visit https://www.texaschildrensglobalhealth.org/bipai.
Photos by Smiley N. Pool
