Last week a number of events that were creative, educational, fun and even fitness-encouraging were brought together for the Rhodes HIV/Awareness Week. There were discussions, lectures, 7-a-side soccer games, a fun walk, a colloquium and an HIV-poster design competition.
Last week a number of events that were creative, educational, fun and even fitness-encouraging were brought together for the Rhodes HIV/Awareness Week. There were discussions, lectures, 7-a-side soccer games, a fun walk, a colloquium and an HIV-poster design competition.
Initiated and organised by Rhodes staff members, the Peer Supporters 7-a-Side Soccer Challenge aimed to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS related issues, stimulate conversation and provide support for those affected by the virus. The 7-a-Side Soccer Challenge ran from Monday to Thursday, with matches held each day at on the Rhodes King Field. The event ended with a prize-giving ceremony on Thursday.
The Rhodes Peer Supporters programme consists of volunteer staff members committed to an ethos of wellness. Dedicated to empowering and educating other staff members and the community in general, the peer supporters provide information about resources in Grahamstown and at Rhodes University.
“Soccer promotes physical health, exercise, community and fun,” says Graham Kingma, the programme’s facilitator. “The 7-a-Side Soccer Challenge is about all round wellness, and more of a prevention strategy than a reaction to HIV/AIDS”.
However, Kingma explains that the peer supporters are not limited to HIV/AIDS related issues, but also tackle legal, financial and personal problems within the community. The goal of the programme is to direct those seeking assistance to reliable resources – for example, FAMSA – and offer further information about policies and systems at Rhodes University.
Sipho Moneli, a member of the Rhodes Grounds and Gardens division, says that the peer supporters are “trained to minimise the spread of the disease, and teach others about HIV”.
According to Moneli, the purpose of the 7-a-Side Soccer Challenge is “to draw a picture of the peer supporters – to attract people and educate them about our role”.
The 7-a-Side Soccer Challenge was made up of four women’s teams and eight men’s teams, which consisted of student squads as well as staff teams from various departments at Rhodes.
“This is an event that brings everybody together, regardless of status,” says Michael Drewett of the Sociology Department’s team. “The Soccer Challenge is a chance to think about the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, but also about health and fitness in general”.
In September, Thandi Nzizi will commence his role as Rhodes’ HIV/AIDS Advocacy Officer. The inclusion of this post indicates the importance of HIV/AIDS education and management at the university, and provides further support structures for students and staff.
