VOF Week 2 (Too much for a woman!)

The struggles of women both living a positive and a negative life are just too much. women need to know that they also have rights and that they can do, speak and live just like any other normal human being.

Two years ago I started working for an organization known as Network of Zambian people living with HIV/ Aids as a volunteer. I was also introduced to a number of support groups within the community. In my country culture and tradition has it that a woman is inferior to a man and hence a man should not be questioned. What ever a man says is right, but this has put women especially illiterate women in jeopardy. Certain Tradition norms have contributed to some of the problems that women are facing, . Women are not required to question a man on issues like condom use or the risky behavior of a man and if they do, the end result is violent or their marriage is at risk. And since most women want to protect their marriage they suffer inward. Due to this their feeling are ignored and neglected and they feel insecure and unworthy.
The support groups that I early alluded to comprises manly of women who have either been abandoned or have lost their partners due to HIV/ aids. An example is of a woman who got to know her status when she was pregnant; she started having problem with her husband a truck driver who refused to take an HIV test. Her husband became even more aggressive when his wife conceived an HIV positive baby. The man then threw out her wife and child. He further went on to say that he can not care and support a wife and child who live a positive life. Most women are infected with the virus by their partners who are not faithful, yet they are treated unfairly. These women go through many problems which led them to an early grave.
Basically these and other related issues affecting women led me to this community and inspired me to join the voices of our future applicant. Through this community I believe women are empowered and their voices arise and reach policy makers who can be influenced to change some of the unnecessary tradition norms which restrict and disadvantage women from expressing them selves and to stand for what is right. And as part of this program i can also be part of the advocacy team to bring about change.
I envisage a free empowered woman, recognized, able to express and make decisions at home and national level and her decision treated with honor and dignity. A woman plays a vital role in making this world a better place to live in and this journey enables each woman including my self to freely express my self, educate women on their rights and also empower them with skills and knowledge which will enable them to live a free and reproductive life.