COUNSELLING AND PEER SUPPORT GROUPS ARE AN ESSENTIAL IN HELPING CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV UNDERSTAND THEIR STATUS

Support groups
Providing peer to peer support networks
               CHILDREN’S SUPPORT GROUPS
“I have made friends that I know are in the same situation as I am. I am more open about my status now because I know I am not alone”. Precious, Aged 18. 

When an child or adolescent living with HIV has been disclosed to they need a lot of care and support to help understand their status. TTF run age tailored Children’s Support Groups for children aged 8 – 18. These groups run monthly over a period of six months and cover a range of topics to help a child cope with their HIV Status and deal with some of the issues they may face in their community and as they enter adolescence such as: 
  • Drug adherence
  • Disclosure
  • Stigma and Discrimination and; 
  • HIV transmission
By bringing together these children in groups of up to 20 individuals we are not only providing a peer to peer support network but giving them the tools they need to live a positive life. 

Read about some of the children whose lives have been changed through the children’s retreats.
Teen support
Helping teens to lead happy, healthy lives
           TEEN SUPPORT AND COUNSELLING
As children living with HIV reach adolescence, alongside the usual teenage problems, they will also face issues like; not knowing how to deal with their status; dealing with relationships as sex and sexuality becomes part of their lives; and dealing with peer pressure. All of these things can have a negative impact on the physical and emotional health of an child living with HIV

TTF runs many tailored adolescent support groups including our Girls Club; bringing young women together to form a peer support network, and Tisamala (meaning we take care); for 13 – 19 year olds to help them through their difficult teenage years. All support groups offer peer supported learning and help young people to deal with issues including: 
  • Dealing with hostility – including  how to handle discrimination, stigma and disclosure
  • Alcohol and drug abuse – including how to handle peer pressure
  • Coping with loss and grief - with HIV+  family members
  • Sexual Reproductive Health – relationships and sex alongside how to handle peer pressure
By bringing these teens together for weekly support groups and social interaction we can help mitigate risks and provide them with the right training and peer support to help them lead healthy lives. 

"I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE INFECTED WITH HIV UNTIL I CAME TO THE RETREATS, COMING HERE HAS HELPED ME TALK OPENLY ABOUT MY STATUS". PEGGY, AGED 16

A care givers support group
One of our care givers support groups
               CARE GIVERS SUPPORT GROUPS
Parents and caregivers of children living with HIV can often struggle to disclose to their child their HIV status. Once they have disclosed their child’s status they more often than not need support of their peers and counsellors to help them to understand what their child is going through. TTF offers one day workshops for up to 20 care givers and parents to help them with:
  • Understanding HIV treatment for a child, 
  • Adherence of medication
  • Stigma and discrimination that they or their child may face
  • Building a support network of other parents within their community
By providing a safe space for our care givers to talk and share experiences, we can help support them and their child in leading a happy, healthy life. 
One to one counselling
One to One counselling with our Social Worker.
                  ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELLING
In order for a child or adolescent to feel comfortable with their HIV status, one to one counselling is required. Our sessions with trained counsellors and social workers enable a child to talk about their personal  difficulties and experiences, and to discuss things and ask questions which they may not yet feel comfortable talking about in a group session. Each client at the TTF Pediatric Clinic is provided: 
  • Individual case management by our team of social workers and counsellors, 
  • Regular one hour counselling sessions based on their need be it adherence counselling or psycho social counselling. 
By carefully monitoring the children and adolescents who come to the clinic we provide a mixture of support to help them to lead positive lives. 

$50 COULD PAY FOR A WHOLE DAYS COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT TO 
THE PARENT OR CARE GIVER OF A CHILD LIVING WITH HIV

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