Chairladies’ meetings: “You are unique the way you are”
Youth and women chairladies met in July 2023 to build their leadership skills and explore the theme of uniqueness and self-worth.
MASYAP’s youth and women chairladies met on 22 and 25 July 2023 respectively. These quarterly meetings bring together the chairladies of every support group to discuss pressing issues and to help them run their groups well.
A support group is a gathering of people facing common challenges. By sharing their experiences, members offer each other support, encouragement and comfort, and receive the same in return.
Building leaders
The meetings help women and young women prepare for leadership, understand self-awareness in relation to HIV/AIDS and the barriers around it, and gain the knowledge and skills to advance gender equality in their lives and in their work as chairladies. Women leaders are also vital mentors for those coming up behind them.
The benefits of a support group
- Feeling less lonely, isolated or judged
- Less distress, depression, anxiety and fatigue
- Talking openly and honestly about your feelings
- Better skills for coping with challenges
- Staying motivated to manage long-term conditions and stick to treatment
“You are unique the way you are”
Health and education facilitators led a discussion with the youth chairladies on this theme. Their key points were:
- There is only one you. Of the billions of people alive today, no one else is exactly like you.
- You see the world differently. Your surroundings and experiences give you your own perspective.
- You have your own likes and dislikes.
- Your life experience is yours alone. Others may have similar stories, but each is shaped by a different series of events.
- You have your own way of doing things.
