Prior to 2004, Chambwe Primary School in central Malawi had six male teachers who all ignored the danger and impact of HIV/AIDS on their students and community. The teachers did not tell their students about the pandemic and because the people in the surrounding villages did not know much about HIV/AIDS, few cared about the increasing number of AIDS orphans in their community and were doing little to prevent more deaths from AIDS.

By facilitating discussions in communities throughout Malawi, including Chambwe, USAID’s Malawi Education Support Activity (MESA) ensures that HIV/AIDS education reaches not only students but also their communities. Following one MESA community discussion, a group of women from Chambwe decided they could not wait for someone else to educate their children about the dangers of AIDS – it was time to do it themselves. Seven women began to counsel students on the dangers of risky sexual behavior. In addition, the group, led by Mai Nalinde, speaks to everyone in the villages around the school. They visit homes of persons living with HIV/AIDS, providing moral support and financial assistance when possible. The mothers’ group talks about HIV/AIDS at any gathering where people will listen - funerals, maize mills, markets, water wells, and churches.

What has touched the hearts of many people in the area is what the mothers’ group does for students. The group goes to Chambwe School twice a week to counsel and teach students about HIV/AIDS. “Many students at the school have really changed their attitudes and behaviors,” commented J.R. Chagwanjira, Deputy Head Teacher. Inspired by the mothers’ group, some students formed a drama troop which supplements the efforts of the mothers’ group. The drama troop performs both at the school and in the surrounding villages. “Many people around the school now appreciate the gravity of the AIDS pandemic and time has come to stop playing games,” said D. Chakungwa, the group’s facilitator.