Thomas is nineteen and he lives in a rural village in South Africa, not far from the border with Mozambique. He’s quietly spoken, a little shy at first and one of those will-o-the-wisp kind of lads who used all his growing in an upwards direction. But don’t underestimate this rather earnest young man – he’s a ground-breaker. That’s not just my view – it’s official – indeed it’s his job description.
As part of a leadership programme in South Africa and Mozambique I walk around his village – a rural township near the Mozambique boarder. There’s very little work here, and poverty is profound. The spectacular views towards the Kruger National Park probably don’t make up for the lack of electricity or basic sanitation. Most pressing of all, somewhere between twenty and thirty per cent of the community probably has HIV or AIDs. This isn’t uncommon in many areas of Southern Africa. It has been estimated that unless something dramatic can be done, half of South Africa’s current fifteen year olds will contract HIV or AIDS during their lifetime. Thomas is probably the village’s best hope.
Six months ago Thomas was employed as a 'Ground-breaker' by a non-governmental organisation called “loveLife”. His task is to go into village schools and lead a series of programmes that explain in the frankest of terms about the risks of HIV and AIDs. “When I told my mother I had to talk about sex and all these things at first she was very worried” he explains, “but now she is very proud”. And so she should be.
Thomas looks younger than his age and yet his daily task is to face a class of forty or fifty children only a couple of years younger than him, and talk openly about the most intimate of subjects. His message is a pragmatic mixture of urging sexual abstinence or safer sex and condom use. He has to confront a taboo which means that most of those who are HIV positive or suffering from AIDs will do all they can to avoid the stigma of their neighbours knowing they have the disease. Thomas admits it has been a challenge. “At first some of them were disrespectful. Now, because I am like them and this is my village too, they listen and they can tell me things they wouldn’t tell their parents or their teachers.”
When it comes to AIDs prevention there’s not much else for the young people. Thomas is currently the front line of the battle to save his village generation. This unassuming youngster seems inspired by the responsibility and from it comes a form of community leadership which would put many of our captains of industry to shame.
The “loveLife” scheme uses a number of programmes to get the message across. They believe not just in direct teaching about sex and relationships but in the importance of building young people’s self-esteem and sense of purpose – no easy task when the odds seem stacked so heavily against the people in this community.
As we stroll past a barren area of sandy scrub Thomas explains that this is the village soccer pitch. “We hope it will be refurbished soon” he tells me. He goes on to explain how important South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 Football World Cup will be. “It makes everyone think something big is possible – that there could be jobs and excitement”. He actively uses sport and the 2010 World Cup specifically in many of the “loveLife” programmes. Indeed he believes it is one of his best weapons. “ When they do sport there is something else to focus on – it really works well” he says with passion. And there’s early evidence that he may be right. A local clinic says that HIV rates in some of the local schools is now below ten per cent and they believe “loveLife” is having an impact.
It’s half a world away but I can’t help reflecting on Seb Coe’s speech in Singapore when London won the 2012 games. He talked about the power of sport to inspire young people all around the world. He pledged that a London Games would work tirelessly to open up new opportunities and links between young people in the UK and the 205 Olympic and Paralympic nations. As we develop our international programmes over the next couple of years I’ll think hard about Thomas and his village.
