Amanda Dlamini posts her first Students for Humanity blogpost about HIV testing

Wednesday, 1^st day of the month of December, in the year 2010; I went for an HIV test, something which I never had in mind, because I am a virgin.  They say if you are a virgin why bother testing but you know what they say; never say never.

Here  I was in a clinic in line to get  tested, I was so happy and proud that am doing this; and on the other  hand I was asking myself what it is that am actually doing.  One thing came in my mind: that HIV does not only infect a person by having unprotected sex, you can get it in many different ways. For an example when you are staying with a person who is a victim of this disease and they never open with you about their status then it‘s so easy for you to become its victim too, if blood was transferred somehow.

I was then called into the room, well I was scared, it felt like I was in a room where  people are killed – everyone came out looking scared. I felt like I had lost my mind, I was going crazy and asking God to be with me as I enter that scary room. When I got inside there was a fat lady and the skinny one – it was like I was in a judgement room – like a decision was being made that I was either going to hell or heaven. The lady kept asking me questions that  I had every answer  for and  the moment I told that lady that I am a virgin she looked at me and shook her head. She said, “You’re a virgin!” It’s like she didn’t believe me.  One of the questions  was;  “If you are a virgin, why are you here?”

I then told her it’s not about having unprotected sex. Then she said to me, “But then if you find out that you are HIV positive, and you say that you a virgin, what is it that that you are going to do?”  I told them that I would be shocked for that moment;  but will make sure that I will get treated  while I still have many and stronger soldiers in my body – it’s not like it’s the end of the world.

There are many people who are living with this disease and some of them live longer than those who are not HIV positive. People should accept the fact that this disease is out there, it’s a killer disease and it’s waiting for you to take that wrong step into having unprotected sex or any other kind of recklessness.  People should start taking this killer disease seriously and have one partner that loves them, a partner who will never kill you with this disease.

She then explained how the test goes and I got tested. I kept praying in my heart that I don’t have this disease in my blood. Yeah well, I tested and got the results back saying that I was healthy – just like a new born baby.

On the day I plan to take a step into breaking my virginity, I want to have safe sex with my partner; but first we should both know our status so we can protect each other.

Written by:  Amanda Nhlanhla Dlamini

Check Amanda’s video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8plyzRTmUA

Introducing Amanda – A Digital Native and Student for Humanity based in Joburg.

I am Amanda Nhlanhla Dlamini. I am 16 years old and am my mom’s first daughter and have two siblings – an older brother and a younger sister. I stay with my grandparents in Thembisa (a township on the East Rand of Johannesburg) at Mayibuye Section. I am a student at Boitumelong Secondary school, in grade 11f. This is my first year attending there. I am a teenager who likes exploring.  I started using a computer at the age of 13 when I was in grade eight. Then when I stayed with my mom, every penny I got I would save for internet. When I look at my future I see a good life ahead of me.  I’d like to study journalism, photography or music production.

We promise we’ll be back during the holidays.

In the meantime, please see the work we did with the wonderful USC Annenberg School for Communications in Southern California. The project was called ”What does Democracy Mean to You?”, we had a lot to share.

Best thing of all is that we got some Flip handycams to use for future projects and got to learn how to use Soundslides software to create our wonderful projects. Look out for more soon.

Sphamandla from Students for Humanity with Samantha from USC

Thanks for your understanding.

Love,

Students for Humanity

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/2696386[/vimeo]