Mennonite
Central
Committee

Ethiopian choir lessens stigma of AIDS

Sarah Adams
October 10, 2006

Ethiopia is home to one of the world's largest HIV-positive populations, with up to 1 million people infected. In the capital city of Addis Ababa, Shewareged Ayalkbet has been living with HIV for the last 6 years. Thirty-nine year old Shewareged was the first HIV-positive person to come forward within the Meserete Kristos Church and request support for herself and others like her. That was in 2000. "When I think back, there was strong stigma and discrimination then. It was not like today," she says.

Shewareged learned of her HIV status 5 months after coming to Christ. "When the nurse counselor told me my test result, I was at peace with the result," Ayalkhbet says. "She said to me, 'Are you crazy? I'm telling you that you are HIV-positive, and you are not upset.' I told her, 'I know. Whether negative or positive, Jesus is Lord. And Jesus knows why. Everything works out for good.'"

Acknowledging God as the founder, Shewareged says she encouraged other people living with HIV and AIDS to form a fellowship.

These days, members of the fellowship do more than just support and encourage each other. They also provide education about HIV/AIDS to the wider church community. When some members of the fellowship expressed a desire to sing songs as a form of ministry, the group organized a choir.

All choir members are living with HIV or AIDS. Their songs reflect the importance of their faith. "We mostly sing about the Lord Jesus Christ and how he saved us and comes to our rescue when we are in need," Shewareged says. The choir also sings songs about how it feels to live with HIV and AIDS.

Shewareged says, with a laugh, that she is not a strong singer herself. "But I'm a leader, so I'm there to help the choir in their ministry. We go into local churches, and we are ministering. We are blessed when the churches invite us," she says.

The choir's ministry is in high demand. The singers perform together nearly every Sunday, sometimes in up to four different churches in one day. They've even had numerous requests to perform outside of Addis Ababa.

Through songs and testimonies during Sunday services, the choir aims to reduce stigma and discrimination in the church.

Shewareged says choir members also benefit from their participation in the group, which meets for a weekly Bible study. Shewareged has seen members make positive changes in their lives and grow in their faith.

Through her illnesses and struggles, Shewareged continues to provide strong leadership to the church and the community in the face of AIDS. She is pleased with the active role of the Meserete Kristos Church in addressing AIDS and believes there is always more that can be done.

"I'm alive today because God has a purpose for my life," Shewareged says. "He wants me to support people living with HIV and AIDS. That's why I'm still breathing."

 

 

Sarah Adams is MCC's HIV/AIDS program coordinator.