1. KENYA NETWORK OF HIV POSTIVE TEACHERS (KENEPOTE) PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS AIDS 2006 TORONTO, 13TH –18ST AUGUST, 2006 BY MARGARET WAMBETE FOUNDER/CHAIRPERSON KENEPOTE Email postiveteachers@yahoo.com wambete@yahoo.com postiveteachers@yahoo.com wambete@yahoo.compostiveteachers@yahoo.com wambete@yahoo.com

2. I am Margaret Wambete, founder/chairperson Kenya Network of HIV positive teachers (KENEPOTE). A practicing active, activist and effective, teacher living positively with the virus, 15 years now. A loving mother to a teenage son. I am Margaret Wambete, founder/chairperson Kenya Network of HIV positive teachers (KENEPOTE). A practicing active, activist and effective, teacher living positively with the virus, 15 years now. A loving mother to a teenage son. As a teacher with HIV I have suffered multi stigma and discrimination from self, students, colleagues, parents, the community and the employer Teachers Service commission (TSC) As a teacher with HIV I have suffered multi stigma and discrimination from self, students, colleagues, parents, the community and the employer Teachers Service commission (TSC) I suffered from self stigma shame and denial to accept my HIV status. This led to my not accessing health care services in good time. The students were scared of me and were disrespectful, they refused to take instructions or hand in their assignments for marking in fear of contamination. They also ridiculed me by negative songs and insinuations- Good Morning Madam AIDS or Teacher HIV I suffered from self stigma shame and denial to accept my HIV status. This led to my not accessing health care services in good time. The students were scared of me and were disrespectful, they refused to take instructions or hand in their assignments for marking in fear of contamination. They also ridiculed me by negative songs and insinuations- Good Morning Madam AIDS or Teacher HIV

3. Colleagues were no better. The Head teachers rejected me saying they were not ready to bury me. They also breached the doctrine of confidentiality when I was transferred to a new school, the information on my status would reach before me when arriving I would meet with hostility and shunted from school to school never working nor gaining acceptance. Some of my colleagues were interdicted had their salary stopped, removed from the register and forced to retire due to their HIV status. Tea clubs were dissolved. My cup was marked. The language used in the staffroom was derogative and unbearable- walking corpse, victim, those with tickets.

4. Some parents withdrew their children from my class and advocated for my removal from the school. The church regarded me as a sinner and promiscuous. They stripped me off my responsibilities from church matters. Elsewhere positive teachers were denied burial rights. Some parents withdrew their children from my class and advocated for my removal from the school. The church regarded me as a sinner and promiscuous. They stripped me off my responsibilities from church matters. Elsewhere positive teachers were denied burial rights. My family withdrew my son from me for one year for fear of me infecting him, making him reject me and drop out of school. However after my stabilization he went back to school, he is now starting year two at Moi University studying bachelor of Business management. My family withdrew my son from me for one year for fear of me infecting him, making him reject me and drop out of school. However after my stabilization he went back to school, he is now starting year two at Moi University studying bachelor of Business management.

5. The situation as it was formed a challenge to me. I resolved to fight stigma and discrimination at the grass- root by having dialogue with the stigmatizers, I reached out to teachers like me, I met Elsa & Maureen and formed KENEPOTE to unite HIV positive teachers in Kenya to fight HIV and AIDS and its impact, stigma and discrimination and promote access to education, care, support, treatment and live positively. The situation as it was formed a challenge to me. I resolved to fight stigma and discrimination at the grass- root by having dialogue with the stigmatizers, I reached out to teachers like me, I met Elsa & Maureen and formed KENEPOTE to unite HIV positive teachers in Kenya to fight HIV and AIDS and its impact, stigma and discrimination and promote access to education, care, support, treatment and live positively. Our vision is to empower HIV positive teachers with psycho social and economic support that would ensure that their dignity as disseminators of knowledge is not compromised. That they free from stigma, discrimination and ignorance of available supportive services Our vision is to empower HIV positive teachers with psycho social and economic support that would ensure that their dignity as disseminators of knowledge is not compromised. That they free from stigma, discrimination and ignorance of available supportive services Objectives are;Influencing policy environment for better working conditions for positive teachers.Reducing stigma within HIV positive teachers so that they can have fulfilled and productive lives. To handle OVC within teaching profession. Objectives are;Influencing policy environment for better working conditions for positive teachers.Reducing stigma within HIV positive teachers so that they can have fulfilled and productive lives. To handle OVC within teaching profession.

6. From 2004, with technical support from USAID through POLICY project KENEPOTE, is addressing the unique needs of positive teachers particularly those relating to disclosure since this is the entry point to healing, accessing care, support and treatment. From 2004, with technical support from USAID through POLICY project KENEPOTE, is addressing the unique needs of positive teachers particularly those relating to disclosure since this is the entry point to healing, accessing care, support and treatment. We have achieved the following. We have achieved the following. We held our first consultative forum creating direction and focus We held our first consultative forum creating direction and focus Mobilization of new members with over 3000 across the country Mobilization of new members with over 3000 across the country Formed support groups in 16 Districts and representatives in all 8 provinces of Kenya Formed support groups in 16 Districts and representatives in all 8 provinces of Kenya Tackled stigma aggressively by holding workshops Tackled stigma aggressively by holding workshops Established a joint task force with Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), The Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MOEST) and the Employers (TSC) AND UNESCO to address Human rights violation Established a joint task force with Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), The Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MOEST) and the Employers (TSC) AND UNESCO to address Human rights violation I was elected treasurer of Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT)Uasin Gishu branch in March 2006 I was elected treasurer of Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT)Uasin Gishu branch in March 2006 With 20 Teachers reinstated into their jobs, over 1000 positive teachers transferred into schools of their choices With 20 Teachers reinstated into their jobs, over 1000 positive teachers transferred into schools of their choices

7. Numerous TV and radio interviews Numerous TV and radio interviews KENEPOTE has sensitized over 100,000 teachers and 150,0000 people through the media KENEPOTE has sensitized over 100,000 teachers and 150,0000 people through the media Knowledge and attitude of teachers, students, members of the community and employer has shifted significantly from negative to positive Knowledge and attitude of teachers, students, members of the community and employer has shifted significantly from negative to positive KENEPOTE is pleased to mention the partnership and Alliance it is forging with Association in Development for Education in Africa (ADEA) through the working group of the teaching profession, we are grateful to this group for sponsoring us to present a paper on capacity building for HIV positive teachers in Kenya’s Education Sector at this conference. This working group has recognized KENEPOTE as a model for good practice for other African countries, they are planning to hold a workshop to document our experiences. KENEPOTE is pleased to mention the partnership and Alliance it is forging with Association in Development for Education in Africa (ADEA) through the working group of the teaching profession, we are grateful to this group for sponsoring us to present a paper on capacity building for HIV positive teachers in Kenya’s Education Sector at this conference. This working group has recognized KENEPOTE as a model for good practice for other African countries, they are planning to hold a workshop to document our experiences.

8. As the Chairperson I am proud to say that the death rate of teachers has decreased tremendously since the inception of KENEPOTE. KENEPOTE members have just realized that they have not saved enough to enjoy their retirement since death is not on their pathway, “life has just began” To conclude I recommend that more support for positive teachers and their children is needed. KENEPOTE is a unique model that needs further support and can be adopted for other Educational Sectors in other countries in the world. As the Chairperson I am proud to say that the death rate of teachers has decreased tremendously since the inception of KENEPOTE. KENEPOTE members have just realized that they have not saved enough to enjoy their retirement since death is not on their pathway, “life has just began” To conclude I recommend that more support for positive teachers and their children is needed. KENEPOTE is a unique model that needs further support and can be adopted for other Educational Sectors in other countries in the world. Thank you