She has lived with the virus for over 21 years and is not ashamed to disclose to her peers about her status.
Although the youth still feels it is embarrassing to share their status with their peers, Sithembile Langa who is a student at Emadwaleni Secondary School is in a quest to change the stigma behind HIV.
On November 30, just a day before World AIDS Day was celebrated she hosted a seminar that was aimed at teaching her fellow peers more about the virus. The event was guided by the theme Know your status.
Obviously, she wouldn’t do it alone but had four major stakeholders that gladly helped to make the day a success and the help of her educators. Namely: Star for life, Shanty Clinic, Vuka mama and Ikageng.
Langa said she organised the event because she saw how her peers react after finding out that they are positive or learning that their family member has it.
“I want to break the silence they have and not to hide their status to the world,” she said.
Growing up she said she also had experiences of people judging her and others even went to the extent of telling their kids not to befriend her.
“You can be HIV positive and live your life to the fullest. It doesn’t mean when you are positive it’s the end of the world. Instead of giving up tell yourselves that it’s an opportunity to fix your past mistakes,” said Langa.
Langa said her mother always educated her about the virus since she was very young and her support was more than enough for her to learn to accept the situation.
Attending programmes and workshops made her easily accept the situation because she saw that she is not alone.
“I did what I did knowing that people will judge me and others will not accept me but I am happy that she has spread the gospel and not to talk about other people but me.
“And by breaking the silence I am opening a platform for most of you to open up and help each other to do a positive thing,” concluded Langa.
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