KEEPING CLEAN & LEARNING LIFE SKILLS

Covid-19 has been a challenging and difficult time, but there have been a few shining moments in our Youth Mentor Program. Due to increased demand, the youth have been learning soap making. They have been producing multi-purpose soap for their own use, as well as soap for sale. The process of making soap and working together with other youth has given them a framework to start thinking about jobs and given them the chance to be economically independent.

One of our youth in the program that's really benefitted is a 19 year old. He is a partial orphan living under the care of an ailing grandmother. He and his brother are both HIV positive and the boys enrolled in our Holy Family Center program. Through mentorship from other peers, he has been able to adhere to the HIV drugs and suppress his viral load - a great milestone. Currently, he is engaged in soap making at home and sells the soap to meet his basic needs, as well as helping provide money for transport to come for drug refills at the Holy Family Center.

Sometimes there is a sliver lining!