Back to school

We don't usually hold meetings in schools - but the exceptions validate the rules!

Mrs Angelina Nelson, the Headmistress of DPM school in Mulund E had asked Sheba and myself to do an AIDS awareness session with the class 9 and 10 students.

Being Tuesday, and having the kind help of Dr. Marise at the clinic, we set out to meet the students. The top floor saw one room for girls - which Sheba took - and another chock-a-block with boys - taken by yours truly. Sheba's talk was great - her quiet but confident manner brought the girls to pin-drop silence. My talk had a slightly rowdier crowd - but it was a real privilege to share with these young men.

I was struck by the potential in the room. So many eager faces. Some bored ones too. But overall each young man having so much that can happen through them.

Being a mix of 9 and 10th grades I could also see the vast changes that puberty had wrought. Some of the boys looked tiny - others were the kind you would find at the local boxing gym - stubble beard and all.

After our presentations we gave out slips of paper for questions. What was written was revealing. There were the basic ones about HIV which we had already covered in the presentation - some folks must have been sleeping. Then there were a bunch which showed an intense interest in sexuality. This is clearly a felt need and after the programme we suggested to Mrs. Nelson that they have ACT Nirnaay come and do their life-skills training here. A number ranged on the bizarre ("Can you get HIV from water bottles, homosexuals and lesbians?") while a few asked the origin question.

The pick of the lot, however, was a detailed question asking for advice with a pornography addiction. He said that his father has told him to study and concentrate on other things, but that he still finds it very attractive - and what should he do about it...

We are facing a battle for the mind. For every lecture like this that we give - our young people have hundreds of hours telling them what 'beautiful' and 'handsome' look like - and that you can sleep around and do whatever you want - since you deserve all the pleasure you can get.

Speaking of battles, the police came while we were giving our presentation (unknown to us). They told Mrs. Nelson that there was an alert and that terrorists were planning to attack some schools and colleges.

You can't help think about these kinds of warnings in the context of HIV prevention. We have dealt with death. Young people of 30 and 35 dying. How many of them would have been like the boys and girls that we talked to today. At the talk of terrorism - no-one wants to take a chance. But, when it comes to preventing HIV - suddenly risk goes out the window. Pleasure first. You deserve it. Get what you can. The lies continue. How many more young people will it take before HIV stops its onward spread?