Baylor Teen Club Christmas Party

On Saturday, December 19^th Doug hosted the Baylor Teen Club’s Christmas Party. As you may know, one of Doug’s primary projects (outside of clinical care) is serving as the physician and manager for the clinic’s teenage support group called, ‘Teen Club.’ Doug works with a couple of Swazi’s from the clinic, Treasure and Pags, and with an American volunteer, Shari, in order to plan and facilitate monthly meetings for approximately 150 teenagers with HIV. The mission of Teen Club is to empower HIV-positive adolescents in Swaziland to live positively and to successfully transition into adulthood. The Club offers emotional and educational support through structured activities designed to teach life skills, foster relationships, and build confidence. It provides a forum for adolescents to constructively express themselves and discuss issues regarding their condition without the threat of stigma. Doug is very motivated by working with the teens because he believes deeply in the use of education as a means of eradicating HIV. Instead of a December meeting, Doug worked with the U.S. Embassy to host a Christmas Party. The teenagers came to the clinic in the morning for their monthly check-up and then attended the Christmas Party from 11:00am onward.

The 2^nd in command at the U.S. Embassy, Sarah Mortenson, graciously offered her home as the venue for the party. Additionally, she enlisted the support of her colleagues at the Embassy in order to help cook, clean and to chaperone the party.

Sarah had an enormous patio that was perfect for the party. The kids danced, played games, kicked the football around, made Christmas cards, and ate lunch.

The Embassy folks, Peace Corps Volunteers and PAC Doctors worked the grill and served lunch.

At the end of the party, the kids received dessert and a present. I provided 'no bake' cookies for dessert and the Embassy provided knitted bears and lots of other goodies in a stocking. Many of the kids wanted their photo by the tree on their way out.

Doug wrapped-up the day by thanking the hosts and benefactors and all of the volunteers and significant others who made the party happen. Go, Dr. Doug, go!

Doug and Shari have recently submitted a grant proposal to NERCHA in order to decentralize Teen Club and to initiate clubs in each of the 4 regions of Swaziland. Because transportation is the greatest expense for Teen Club, the goal is to operate monthly meetings around the country so that more teenagers can participate. Should his grant be approved and funded, Doug will implement a teenage peer counseling training program and work with volunteers around the country in order to establish regional Clubs. So, next year (if all goes well) there will be lots of Teen Club Christmas Parties to write about!