Swaziland may be the smallest country in the southern hemisphere, but it seems to burst with more than its share of wonders. Lush mountains, waterfalls, and unique rock formations shelter a rich variety of indigenous flora, all manner of wildlife and some very colorful, cheeky birds. Some particularly noisy members of this latter group apparently serenaded Nicole, our videographer, through the wee hours of this morning.
Despite these natural endowments, 70 percent of Swaziland's roughly 1 million citizens live below the poverty line on less than $1 per day. Swaziland also has the highest HIV prevalence in the world.
We met this afternoon with Derek von Wissell, the head of NERCHA, the program created by the government in 2002 to spearhead the national response to HIV/AIDS. Derek, the former minister of finance, explained the particular complexity and urgency of eliminating AIDS in Swaziland. He stressed the critical role that (RED) consumers play in making this hope real, particularly for the 70,000 children orphaned by the disease.
Most of these kids watched their parents die. They need food, shelter, clothing and love. It is customary in Swaziland for the community to care for kids if their parents and grandmothers are lost. We will visit one of the country's KaGoGo ("Granny") centers on Thursday.
Politicians and educators around the world say that children are our future.
It's almost a cliché, but it's so true. These kids need to believe, as do all, that life holds promise for them. Even for a child who has lost one or both parents, seeing other adults grow strong on ARV medicine and women delivering HIV-free babies is a powerful message. It signals that life can go on and get better. The freedom to believe in and to choose a future that is healthy is available to these kids. They form a key link in NERCHA's vision of an AIDS-free Swaziland. It is the tangible and intangible impact of Global Fund investments underwritten by (RED) shoppers that we want to capture on this trip.
This is a postcard of thanks to those of you who buy (RED).
--Tamsin