"Memory Books" - Struggling against the Disappearance (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Health - Miscellaneous, grade: 1.00, University of Vienna (Institut der Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie an der Universität Wien), language: English, abstract: It was the 1st of december 2008 at 9 öclock p.m. when I turned on my television and switched to ARTE, to watch a documentary I had read about. It was called "Memory Books - Damit du mich nie vergisst". I wanted to give it a try although I expected another depressing representation of "Africa" suffering from and dying of HIV/AIDS, as it has been almost common on the World AIDS Day.
It didn¿t fulfill my expectations, in no way. I was touched, I was inspired and I wanted to know more about the situation of especially women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and the "Memory Project" of Uganda.

On the basis of this experience, in this paper I will have a closer look at Uganda, at the situation of parents, in particular of women living with HIV/AIDS on the one hand, and on the other hand at the situation of the children affected by the disease and who are left behind after the death of their parents.
First I will start with an overview of HIV/AIDS in Uganda.
Then I will provide an insight into the situation of women in Uganda in association with the epidemic, also concerning the law on domenstic and gender-based violence as on of the main reason for new and disproportionate infections of females, and the impact on children.
Furthermore I will introduce the "Memory Project" and its core, the "Memory Books", which was started in Uganda through the national NGO NACWOLA (National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS), and point out the importance for both of them, parents and children.
The aim of my paper will be to reflect the situation of women and children considering HIV/AIDS, and to provide an insight into NACWOLAs "Memory Project" and its "Memory Books". I want to overview the structure and to give a review on the goals of this program, as well as on its offered possibilities and maybe inherent difficulties.