When we began HEART, the HIV/AIDS Pandemic was killing hundreds of parenting age/young adults daily. Orphanages were springing up everywhere. I wondered, “what if we could focus on the mom, help her get well, teach her a trade and she could support her own children?” 

This was just a dream! Would it actually work?

To develop a sustainable project where the moms not only survived but could actually thrive and care for their own children? 

We opened our first Women Equality Empowerment Project (WEEP) in 2005, for moms raising children alone, as an “Orphan Prevention” program. The first mothers enrolled had full blown AIDS, often weighing less than 100 pounds and were very ill. One of these special ladies is Teckler. When Isaac and I enrolled her she weighed 96 pounds and looked 8 months pregnant (an abdominal hernia). We helped her through surgery, she recovered, and continued her life skills and tailoring training.  

Now, 17 years later, Teckler is 47 years old, a WEEP graduate from Mathare slums. She had no formal education. She first learned to knit, but could not count, so was taught how to count by using stones and “bottle tops”. She next learned sewing skills with our group of mothers in the program. The process was challenging for all of them as this was their first time using a machine of any kind. They learned to make school uniforms for their children by using large paper flour bags to practice sewing. Teckler became a very good seamstress. She has developed some of her own creations and can look at almost any dress and recreate it! Teckler has been a frequent supplier of the HEART Lodge Gift Shop and has made clothes for several of our HEART team members. We helped her open her own shop and learn business skills. 

She is a mother of two children. She not only raised her own two children but her 3 siblings also moved in with her. She later also helped raise her sister’s 4 children. This single mom with HIV, and already raising 5 kids was the only one in her family able and willing to take in more children. 

Teckler is an example of the success of WEEP. She has accomplished so much and has an incredible legacy to leave.

Nothing is ever simple for these mothers living with HIV, they are immunocompromised and at very high risk for chronic diseases. They need screenings for cervical and breast cancer, diabetes and TB (often called the deadly twin of HIV). Careful management and daily taking their medication for HIV is essential. 

Click here to read more about how Moms live with HIV but die from other chronic diseases.