African Women Use Football To Beat HIV Hatred

Aisha Crawford

11/13

1:25

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Positive-Ladies-Soccer-Club-Documentary-HIV-Positive-Women-Use-Football-To-Beat-Haters-In-Zimbabwe/Article/200911215451777?lpos=World_News_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15451777_Positive_Ladies_Soccer_Club_Documentary%3A_HIV_Positive_Women_Use_Football_To_Beat_Haters_In_Zimbabwe

In a country where one in four-with 2 million people-is HIV positive, Zimbabwe is dealing with a huge Aids Epidemic. You would think that since so many people carry the virus that tehy would be understanding of each other. However the stigmas surrounding the sufferers are huge. They are basically seen as less than the others in society, especially the women. To deal with all this hatred and public distress aimed at them, a group of Zimbabwe HIV positive women created a football team. They said "Their crime was to declare themselves HIV positive and reveal themselves to the fiercest prejudice in one of Zimbabwe's poorest townships."These women were rejected from society and refused to put up with it.

When they created the team most of the women barely knew how kick the ball, but thata did not stop them. "They bonded as a team. And so whenever they had problems, or they felt the stigma from the community, they could confront it as a team." The women excelled in the game and had a hollywood edning. A communications worker had been talking to directors in order to get this story on the big screen. It is said that it will be seen at the next sundance film festival. Their self-set challenge: to win a local trophy and prove their collective strength beyond mere survival. "We are carrying the virus that causes Aids, but we are not Aids victims," one of the players vowed

I really enjoyed this story, these women were put down by society's standards for something that is out of their control. These women refused to suffer and they changed their situation. It is so sad that women even have to put up with this especially while battling a deadly virus. If this movie came to the big screen i would definatly go see it. These women exemplify everything i believe in by standing up to the world and saying i am here no matter what! I will life my life despite what you think.