In Kenya, where many children find themselves orphaned as a result of HIV/Aids, one special project is helping them choose to hold on to life.

God is great. I am alive today because of Choose Life. I learnt that I can choose life or death. God gave me a chance to choose – I chose life.”

Nancy*

Nancy lives in Nairobi, Kenya, she is 16 years old and is HIV positive. The virus can cast a long shadow: alongside the physical symptoms comes low self-esteem, self-condemnation and, in Nancy’s case, a reluctance to take her antiretroviral medication in the hope that she would die sooner. But the light of God’s love and hope expressed through the Choose Life Bible programme has offered Nancy and others like her the chance to live life to the full.

‍

HIV in Kenya

Since the first case of HIV was diagnosed in Kenya in 1984, the epidemic has evolved to become one of the major causes of mortality in the country, placing huge demands on the health system and the economy. HIV/Aids affects all sections of society: children, youth, adults, women and men; and is responsible for an estimated 29% of annual adult deaths and 15% of deaths of children under five. At the end of 2013 around 1.6 million Kenyans (3.6% of the total population) were living with HIV. Kenya has an estimated 88,620 new HIV infections among adults and about 12,940 new infections among children annually.**

Many young people face the daily challenges of living with HIV: losing their parents to Aids, being abandoned by their families, dealing with the stigma of the disease. But an orphanage and its dedicated team of carers is giving hope and a reason to live to these young people.

‍

A life worth living

The Choose Life themes have also helped create a positive culture at the home: “It’s common practice for the boys and girls to remind one another to choose life, choose peace, choose right as they go about their day-by-day business,” says Jane. “Even the community around us, including their schools, envy our children – they have become so orderly and humble."

But it’s not just a change in day-to-day attitudes – these teenagers are looking to their futures. One head-teacher told Jane that no one would be able to tell that the Nyumbani children have a life-threatening disease after hearing about how one of the girls declared to her class that she believed she would become a doctor and have a family in the future. Referring to some of the young women attached to the school, he said, “My girls now live ordinary happy lives. I am not surprised they are dreaming and making ambitious declarations – all I can say is their dreams are valid. They will live long to achieve them!”

The consequence of these positive choices reverberates not just at the home and at school but also in the local churches where the young people help set up, and participate in the services. One churchgoer said, “They exude restored self-worth and self-confidence.” Another said, “I can see the healing demonstrated by their restored dignity, open interactions and glowing faces.”

‍

A bright future

But the real testimonies to the power of God’s Word are heard from the children themselves. Choose Life has given them hope and a sense of responsibility for their lives and those of the people around them. Choose Life helped Nancy change her perspective and hold on to life: “I learnt that I have to love myself as I love others,” she says. “I now take the medication faithfully, I’m healthy and stronger.”

Grace*, shared that she has chosen to let boys know that her focus is in her studies not sexual relationships.  She knows every choice she makes has consequences: “I want to be like Joseph,” she says. “He refused and ran away from Potiphar’s wife.” She says there is high peer pressure at her school as many girls and boys are sexually active. She opts to read that passage (from one of the Choose Life booklets) again and again to remain strong.

‍

The onward journey

Choose Life is part of the legacy that Nyumbani offers its children. It is empowering more and more young people as they transition in life and journey through the different phases of their daily experiences, including sickness and recovery. Through the dedication of both staff and residents, Nyumbani hasn’t lost a single child to HIV in the past seven years. The partnership of the caregivers and Choose Life, and the tenacity of the children, has sown the seeds of possibility at Nyumbani and set the foundation for changed lives.

‍

*Name changed