In a region where poverty and HIV/AIDS are inextricably linked, a recent workshop in Lesotho taught women sewing skills as a means of income generation. The "Workshop on Sewing for HIV Positive Women" is a small but significant step towards self-sufficiency where a third of the tiny country's adult population is living with HIV/AIDS.

Twenty-four women attended the six-day workshop organized by Dr. Eugenia Giordano, associate director of Adventist - AIDS International Ministry (AAIM) and Harilala Andriamahefa a trainer from Madagascar, in association with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lesotho.

The participants were a mix of Adventist and non-Adventist women who not only learned sewing skills but learned more about HIV and AIDS Awareness.

"Poverty is very much related with the HIV epidemic and the progression of AIDS. Many people infected with HIV die faster because of lack of food and basic care," Dr. Oscar Giordano, executive director of AAIM said.

"If people are trained in skills that will help in income generation, they will then eat better and live better, hence their lives will be prolonged," added Pastor Mainoane, president of the Adventist church in Lesotho. "The trainees here have been trained in order to be able to generate income for themselves, and above all, to be empowered to train others."

Income generation is difficult in Lesotho, where a large part of its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, according to the United Nations. This makes AIDS--which the government has declared a national disaster --an even more dangerous threat to the country's approximately 1.8 million residents.

This workshop was made possible because of a joint initiative of AAIM and a group of students from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health in California, United States. The students raised funds to purchase the sewing machines. The funds will also go to starting another "Poverty Alleviation Program" in the Northwestern part of the country.

Over several days the participants ... "shared with me their concerns and sufferings, their fear for the future, and the uncertainty on how they will feed their children and themselves. Most of the participants are HIV Positive women in a desperate situation, and have lost their husbands." said Dr. Eugenia Giordano.

One 27-year-old participant wrote the following testimony: "My husband died recently of AIDS, and I am also HIV positive. I have two children of four and two years old. I was frustrated and desperate about my future. I believe that because of this workshop my dreams will come true. I will be like other women. I will have my own business, and will be able to feed my children and secure their future."

The first lady of Lesotho, Mrs. Mathato S. Mosisili attended the closing ceremony of the workshop.

"You have made a difference in [these women's] lives. Now, they are able to focus their attention on their daily lives. They are able to see very clearly and to sleep peacefully and say 'tomorrow I will be able to do this...' Now, these women have something new to think about, and when they wake-up in the morning something important to do," said Mrs. Mosisili.

AAIM was started about a year ago as a joint project of the Adventist church's world headquarters, the Adventist church in Africa, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), and Loma Linda University and Medical Center to find resources for programs like this.

"Our dream is to see each of the churches transformed in a support center for the community through church-based support groups. We can make a difference in the lives of each of the people we reach on a one to one basis using Jesus' method and practicing His love and compassion. Given the magnitude of this tragedy of HIV and AIDS, we would like to hear fewer words and see more action. We would like to see this kind of programs multiplied all over Africa" said Dr. Oscar Giordano.