Nelly

My name is Nelly.  I am 10 years old.  My sister Esther takes me with her to the hospital when we need to get our treatment. I don’t like taking medication but my mom tells me that if I don’t take it I will be sick and will not be able to go to school and play with my friends like I always do.

This year I went to school for only one term.  My sister Esther and I were sent home for school fees.  Esther stayed home for three months and later went back to school because my mom got money that was not enough for both of us.  She said big girls get attacked by bad boys when they stay home.  I did not go back to school and I felt very bad.  When I go back to school I want to learn to speak English very well so that I can be an advocate for children living with HIV like Elijah. When we went for our support group meeting at Lean on Me, we were shown a video of him telling leaders to support children and adolescents living with HIV and I was very proud of him. 

One day when I am able to speak the English language very well I will also lobby for support for children living with HIV. I see everyone speak to our leaders in English and Swahili.  I don’t know Swahili very well but when I do I will tell our leaders to find medicine that tastes better for children because the one they give us is very bitter.