Nonkululeko says ...
Hi, my name is Nonkululeko from Masoyi in Mpumalanga, South Africa. I am a GOLD Lead Peer Educator.
Since I joined the GOLD Programme there have been many changes in my life. Before joining GOLD I was scared to visit the VCT room and go for an HIV test. After I joined the programme I was encouraged to go for an HIV test, because it is very important to know your status and know how to live and things like that. So I went to the VCT room and did an HIV test and found out I was negative. Then I came back to my community and spread the word that people must go and have an HIV test.
There was one girl that I helped in particular. She was afraid to go for a HIV test in the VCT room. I chatted to her and she decided to get tested. Later, she came back to me and said, ‘I did the HIV test, but they say I am positive. What must I do!?’ I told her, ‘This is not the end of your life. You can still live for many years as long as you do what they have told you to do in the VCT room.’ Then she calmed down. She listened to the nurse and took her advice and the treatment and now she doesn’t have any stress. She is free and healthy. She came to me the other day and said, ‘Nonkululeko, now I am feeling well. I don’t have any problems.’ She has a baby now, she is still healthy and her baby is healthy. He is negative.
I also helped another girl who I am mentoring. She was having family problems. The girl is an orphan and also a GOLD Peer Educator. She came to me and said, ‘Nonkululeko we are suffering. We don’t have any food.’ I tried to help her and went to Masoyi, our organisation, and asked if they could help her. Now she is getting a grant and they have money for food and stuff like that.
Masoyi has helped me a lot.
