ADRA

Evelyne's Story of HIV and AIDS
Friday, November 17, 2006

Evelyne, a young woman with bright eyes and a story to tell, sat on the stage at the Christian university in Zimbabwe, where she’d been invited to speak. She looked out at the many faces before her—students, mostly—young, impressionable, and in great need of her message that day.

Several important leaders from her church were also in the audience. With confidence in her step, Evelyne approached the podium and opened her talk with a question: “How many of you know Pastor Mashamba?” Almost all the pastors present knew him and indicated this by raising their hands. Evelyne proceeded to ask, “What do you know about him?” Many in the audience offered warm words of praise for Pastor Mashamba’s work.

She thanked the audience for the words of praise, and then, after a moment, she spoke again. “I am Evelyne Mashamba, his daughter, and I am HIV-positive.” Evelyne was eager to speak frankly about HIV and AIDS and stigma within the church—but moreover, she was ready to talk about love, compassion, and acceptance.

Evelyne is a young Christian woman living positively with HIV. She is open about her HIV experience in every way and hopes that this honesty will help educate others, decrease HIV transmission, and provide encouragement to those who already have it. Evelyne admits that as a pastor’s daughter, it was a scary step coming out about her status—especially because of the assumptions that come with it. But with the support of her family, friends, and church, Evelyne is facing the challenges that HIV has brought to her life. She’s also chosen to help others who face similar challenges by becoming involved with ADRA’s Training of Trainers (TOT) program, which trains church and community members to provide counseling and support services to those living with HIV and AIDS.

After qualifying as an ADRA TOT community counseling trainer, Evelyne established the Fountain of Hope Support Center, a registered nonprofit organization that offers training on HIV- and AIDS-related issues, positive living, and counseling. Fountain of Hope is also developing an HIV and AIDS workplace policy portfolio that will help organizations, businesses, and employers prepare for and deal more fairly with HIV and AIDS in the workplace.

Evelyne actively instructs groups in the skill of counseling and has recently trained 46 pastors from various denominations in eastern Zimbabwe. Evelyne believes strongly in the role of churches in combating HIV and AIDS, and she particularly enjoys her work with pastors. “Pastors cannot afford to be silent; they cannot afford to be in denial; neither can they discriminate or stigmatize,” says Evelyne. “AIDS is real, and it’s in the church and in pastors’ homes as well.”

Despite her HIV status, Evelyne has big plans for the future. She intends to continue and expand the work she has started and is encouraged daily by the difference she knows she is making.