The Tim Rosta Youth Resource Centre
Located in the heart of the border town of Lhubiriha-Mpondwe (at the Ugandan border with the Democratic Republic of Congo), the centre is named after one of our longtime supporters, Mr. Tim Rosta.
Mr. Rosta is an integrated marketing expert based in the US, and is also a board member at the Staying Alive Foundation (SAF). The SAF has been funding our activities since June 2007; but Mr. Rosta also supports the project as an individual.
The centre provides free indoor games, computer training, tailoring and knitting trainings, counseling services, free movies and other entertainment facilities to young people in the area.
The idea is to involve these youths in discussion about their livelihoods and issues related to HIV/AIDS.
By involving them in recreation, we also deter them from engaging in risky activities like drug and substance abuse, and other risky sexual activities which are common with slum dwellers. The youths are also trained to start personal businesses and avoid relying on handouts, and other risky activities which may increase their HIV/AIDS vulnerability.
In addition to these services, free HIV counseling and testing, and distribution of condoms is done at the centre to support the already existing service provision networks.
My husband died 13 years ago and left me with five children. We did not know which disease killed him but some people said it was AIDS. I did not believe it because my husband did not have a second wife and back then HIV was only associated with prostitutes.
But after three years I also became weak and I tested positive for HIV. People who learned of my condition avoided and feared me. I wanted to resort to suicide. Shortly after being hospitalized, I went to YEI to receive couseling and was advised to have my children tested for HIV. One of my children was found positive and the two of us started on ARVs. I am now volunteering with YEI and I feel healthy.
With support from YEI, I feel free to share my story, and yes, my story has encouraged many more people to get tested.
