There is a woman in
When Sylvie decided to come out to her community about her status, the decision was anything but easy. She had been approached by a local TV station to discuss her status on the air during a fundraising drive for HIV/AIDS organizations. She hesitated.
She decided to consult her family. While most of them were supportive of her, her father spoke out angrily against her choice to speak openly. While it broke her heart to do so, she decided that she must go against the wishes of her father.
The day of the broadcast, Sylvie felt sick to her stomach. She was nervous about who would see the show, whether people would approach her on the street, whether they would recognize her, whether they would shun her. She thought of her father. But then she decided: "I have to go ahead with this. If I don't do it, no one will. Sometimes you have to act in the way that you know is best."
For a week after the show, Sylvie was depressed. The decision to speak out hadn't been easy. Going on TV had been a traumatic experience. She didn't want to leave the house as a result of her fears of rejection from her community.
But eventually, with the help of her friends and family, she was able to carry on. And she realized that those people that still held unkind thoughts about her were unimportant to her anyway.
Today, Sylvie heads an organization that helps hundreds of AIDS orphans to get an education at the school that she operates. HIV positive people are hired as teachers. She helps young disadvantaged orphans to get training in the seamstressing trade. She gives widows of AIDS a roof over their head, and their dignity. Her life is selfless and she works hard. If there were ever a more worthy person to give assistance to, they would be difficult to find. If you are interested in making a donation to her, please read a proposal for her newest project. You can email me for a copy or wait for it to go on the site. The link will be on this page.
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