MATANKI NTEPELLI

I decided to become a peer educator because I know my status. I have been positive for five years and I'm using ARVs, says Matanki when asked why she was pleased to be selected as a peer educator.

"I want to let other people know that living with HIV is nothing, it's nothing to know your status. Not knowing about it is dangerous because AIDS kills. You need to know everything about it to live positively with it."

Matanki has worked in the textile industry for 10 years, and at Global Garment for two years, where she works in quality control. She is married with one son. The first time she tested in 1999 she was negative. The next time she tested she was positive. At that time her husband did not know his status - and was reluctant to go for a test. "This caused some conflict between us," she says. "There was no peace in the house until he tested."

Her husband later tested positive and is now also on medication. "Now he is very supportive and also involved," she says.

Instead of being crushed by the news, they have found strength in doing community work. On top of her activities in the factory as a peer educator, Matanki has taken the message out into the community where she does volunteer work with young people. She has been working with teenagers for two years and says she incorporates her ALAFA peer educator material when she meets the group on Sundays.

"I am doing this with all of my heart. I work with the youth outside so that we can have another generation."
Matanki says that ALAFA has given her more than she expected because she now realises that you need to be actively involved. "You need to hear others' opinions and share ideas. Through this I have been able to change negative mindsets about the disease," she says.

"People at work are hungry for knowledge and want to know more about HIV/AIDS. But there are people who are sick who don't know their status. I need to help them."