After an early 6am start and a two hour journey behind us, group 1 (Alan, Oby, Joanna, Charlotte, Rachel, Laura, Lydia, Jonny and Nicola) arrived at Ghamkhori, one of Christian Aid's partners, situated in the south of the country. Ghamkhori has 9 projects in 6 districts in the region. They run women's centres and go into schools teaching young people about Malaria, drug addiction, HIV and AIDS, water transmitted diseases and reproductive health.
Editors note: You can read more about the journey in 'The Road to Kurgan Teppa'. The work of the womens centre in particular is told in 'Thankyou for coming here to hear the story of my heart'.
We arrived at the women's centre in the Vakhsh district to be greeted by a line of teenage boys on either side of the corridor, hands to their hearts in traditional Tajik greeting. These teenage boys are all street kids who work on the market as porters. They were in the middle of a lesson being taught by a Ghamkhori teacher. These lessons cover issues such as reproductive health, HIV, STDs and water and air born diseases. The boys act as peer educators, gathering other market boys and teaching them what they've learnt at the centre.
Farrukh Khabibullo, 16, sporting a bright blue baseball cap and a tee-shirt with the HIV ribbon logo, wears his uniform with pride. Although he receives a few somanis for his work, his motivation shines from within as he speaks. The ambition we saw in Farrukh is common to all the young people we met who are involved with Ghamkhori. He said that his friends from the market think it's a noble thing for him to do.
When asked what was the best thing about coming to the centre, Farrukh's face lit up.
"It's definitely a change of mind because I come from the market. I didn't know about HIV but now I am aware... I am very happy that I became educated. I am thankful to this centre."
We asked Farrukh about his future dreams and like so many young Tajiks, his dreams are generous,
"I would like Tajikistan to become better developed and people to be aware of diseases like HIV and AIDS."
Glad to hear your visit has been so varied.
Alan - great you have visited these HIV projects - lots of stories to share at the event planned for 30th November!
Deborah
Posted by: Deborah | November 01, 2006 at 13:35
Sounds like you're having a great time. Hope you're managing to match all your outfits Oby.
See you in a week or so.
Daniel
Posted by: Daniel | October 31, 2006 at 14:10
These stories will stay with you forever - well done on the blogs everyone. Ruth will be amused to hear that I did a talk on Central Asia last night at a church in Moreton-in-Marsh... and met one of her relatives! Small world. Safe travells home everyone.
Posted by: Steven Buckley | October 31, 2006 at 08:45