Teens join 'army' to fight the 'dream-killer'

They have no guns or special training, but 14-year-olds Twala Mbali and Zungu Sabelo belong to an army.

Their mission isn't to conquer nations or use brute force to overthrow dictators. It's much harder - to defeat HIV/AIDS.

The two have committed themselves to protecting themselves from HIV infection by focusing on their dreams and goals.

"I am the captain of my own ship, I am in charge of my destiny," Twala says, to nods from Zungu.

Twala and Zungu were speaking to The Star after listening to a talk by ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Ivan Jardine, who has made it his personal mission to form an AIDS Army made up of teenagers to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Using a PowerPoint presentation that starts with a blood- curdling cackle and the head of a green monster with razor-sharp teeth - symbolising the HI virus - Jardine paints a picture of the effects of HIV on South Africa, its economy and its people, and encourages the teenagers to protect themselves.

"The world is cheating you by saying it is OK to mess around at any age as long as you use a condom. It is cheating you when it says you can have an abortion at any age.

"We have restrictions on when you can go to school, when you can drive, drink alcohol, go to university, yet, when it comes to sex, it's OK to give 12-year-olds condoms. This is not right," he said during his presentation.

For Jardine, the only way to beat the spread of HIV is to change the way young people are educated.

"We need to be arming them with knowledge and wisdom to make choices that protect them. I try to focus young people to think about why they are here, to visualise their success and to instil in them the belief that they can achieve all this," he said.

Jardine added that teenagers need to be encouraged to focus on their goals and dreams.

To the teenagers, Jardine said: "There is a time and a place for everything. If you get infected with HIV now, you will never reach your full potential. HIV is not just a dream-stealer, it is a dream-killer. This virus has declared war on us and we have to fight it.

"You have the freedom to choose what you do with your life. You can choose to be an eagle, or to be a sheep and follow the others off the edge of the cliff."

Jardine encourages girls, in particular, to keep their "treasure" - their bodies - from prying eyes.

"In a normal society you could dress the way you like, but we are living in an abnormal society and there are those who want to take advantage of you. Don't let them do that," he pleaded.

Ending his talk, Jardine called on his audience to read a booklet he compiled, called Spread the Word, Not the Virus, which urges the reader to think about where he or she wants to be in life.

The booklet, which is available in English and isiZulu, challenges its readers to know themselves and their enemy, and to join the fight against HIV/AIDS.

It ends by calling on the reader to adhere to a code of conduct to:

• Keep in optimal health;
• Constantly learn about HIV/AIDS;
• Practise "save sex" - to save sex for one person;
• To reach for his or her dreams.


The reader is also asked to pledge to spread the word - not the virus, and to join the HIV/AIDS Army.

Commenting on the talk, Zungu said he had been re-energised to focus on his dreams of becoming an advocate.

"Commitment starts within. It starts by you disciplining yourself and knowing what you want out of life and sticking to it. This is what I am going to do," he said.