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In the Tanzanian city of Dodoma, many young people come from families impoverished by AIDS and have to take care of affected relatives. A serious lack of opportunities for first-time job seekers deepens widespread poverty and could heighten the HIV risk for young people. <\/span><\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take Boniface Okumu long to learn this from young people who go to the Jesuit youth centre, Kituo cha Vijana<\/em>, in Dodoma. Boniface is doing his regency, a placement that is part of his formation as a Jesuit. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn my first months here, I met many youth who, through their sharing, made me realize the impact the AIDS epidemic has had and continues to have in their lives,\u201d says Boniface. \u201cSome have family members, friends and neighbours who are HIV-positive and whom they have to care for.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n But this is not what struck him most: \u201cThe unity, openness and desire of the young people to share their challenges, and their determination to help each other, impress me. I find it a good sign of hope that some are ready to share their stories and challenges regarding AIDS.”<\/span><\/p>\n Young people come every day to the centre that has computer classes, tailoring classes, a library for secondary and college level students and sports grounds. When another young Jesuit, Ernesto Graciano from Mozambique, visited the centre late last year, he was intrigued to see the youth finish a basketball game and then sit down in a group to talk in earnest. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWatching this dynamic was an enriching experience for me. Elizabeth, one of the youth leaders, explained that when a sports activity is over, they gather to discuss a topic of their choosing, including sexual violence, how to tackle poverty or what it means to be a youth in a time of HIV\/AIDS,\u201d said Ernesto. \u201cMost of the young people end up sharing concrete experiences, such as caring for people in their families who have AIDS, and the impact this has on their lives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Something else Ernesto learned from the group he met that day was that \u201cthere is a huge need to reach out to other youth in the city because many are not well informed about AIDS-related issues.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Sensing the eagerness of the young people to know and to do more, Boniface prompted them to read and reflect on literature in the centre\u2019s library on HIV & AIDS. \u201cWe also encourage those who have read to share the information with others,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n Boniface also proposed a formal discussion, specifically about the \u201cchallenges of upholding morality in our contemporary society\u201d – <\/span>\u201cThe response was positive and we discussed a lot, which I believe was of benefit to the group of about 30 people who attended.\u201d<\/p>\n The heavy burden of poverty worsened by AIDS reared its head. \u201cAnne (not her real name), who lives with her HIV-positive mother, shared with us how difficult life is. She said her mother has to struggle to find her college fees and to take care of her other children in secondary school. Anne told us that many are the times she had to resist the temptation to get into relationships with older men who could help her financially. Her experience reminded the others of the risk of contracting HIV due to social and economic challenges.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Participants of the discussion readily agreed that the biggest problem they face is joblessness. \u201cEven graduates find it difficult to get jobs. This state of unemployment, which in most cases leads to poverty and insecurity, is indeed a disturbing reality,\u201d said Boniface.<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, he continued: “<\/span>I\u2019m always encouraged by the young people’s determination to live morally upright and sexually responsible lives despite their day-to-day challenges of poverty and unemployment.\u201d<\/p>\n The youth had plenty of ideas to redress the situation, including the provision of capital to start their own modest businesses and the need for more awareness on morality, sexuality and AIDS. <\/span><\/p>\n But the energy and enthusiasm of the group that frequents the centre is far from limited to their own interests. They visit people with HIV who need support in Airport Parish \u2013 which is linked to the centre \u2013and try to console them. Here too, economic support remains a big challenge. <\/span><\/p>\n Ernesto came away from his one-off meeting with the young people convinced that they are \u201cfertile ground\u201d for any initiative to encourage youth development and HIV prevention in Dodoma and that they deserve support: \u201cI found that the youth of the parish have a very rich initiative and they intend to support and educate others to have a better future together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Interacting with the youth on a daily basis, Boniface is determined to do all he can to help despite the limitations posed by lacking resources. \u201cAccompanying the young people and being there to listen to their stories has enabled me to acknowledge how much the Church still needs to do in terms of human development education for them,\u201d he says. \u201cPerhaps we may not be able to help many or do much, but I believe that the few we help will in turn be of help to many others, and the little we do now will yield greater results in future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the Tanzanian city of Dodoma, many young people come from families impoverished by AIDS and have to take care of affected relatives. A serious lack of opportunities for first-time job seekers deepens widespread poverty and could heighten the HIV risk for young people. It didn\u2019t take Boniface Okumu long<\/p>\n