I love working with the children affected by HIV

Thalia, a 22 year old nursing student, volunteers with children affected by HIV in London. This is her story:

"My interest in working within the field of HIV has continually grown throughout the three years of my nursing training, largely due to my discovery of Body and Soul. I stumbled across them whiles reading the Metro one morning and since then, have been hooked – fish line and sinker.

"I started volunteering with the younger children, aged anywhere between a couple of months and 12 years. Although I was somewhat unsure as to what to expect, I envisaged that after working with children closely affected by or infected with HIV, I would feel saddened and even somewhat disheartened on occasions, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

"The children each have a unique sparkle that is honestly addictive to even the least habitual person. As you walk through the door, you can’t help but leave your everyday stresses behind you and be immersed in a buzzing hum of activity. The sessions have an underlying theme such as trust, friendship, loss or motivation and are structured to provide the children with a range of skills through which they can build on - using art, music, play time and group work. All of these aim to contribute to enabling the children to feel the entirely supported when dealing with either their own personal diagnosis or that of a close family member.

"It would be an understatement to say that I love working with the children. Each time I meet them, I am amazed at their levels of energy, hope and vibrancy all of which are given out abundantly to each volunteer. They have taught me more about myself and inspired me to work further in this field of health as each of their unique and vivacious personalities are something that you can never forget."

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