Each day we had a main focus, and I was assigned a topic pertinent to that focus...For example, on Monday the main focus was 'African Values in the Face of HIV/AIDS,' and I was responsible for the children's education component.

One woman from the Congo talked about children running wild in the bush, outcast because their parents died of AIDS. She tries to persuade them to take food from her hands...and then, as she goes walking into the bush, she sees these shallow graves where children bury children. She takes them back to her home to give them a proper burial...These are AIDS orphans, children raising children with no values, no direction. What will become of them?

They value education, they are kind, giving people who would do anything for anybody.

They all have misconceptions about (HIV/AIDS) care...A lot of the African men believe that sex with a virgin will cure you of AIDS...Then there is the problem, too, of being able to disclose that you have AIDS in a culture where sex is not discussed, deriving the strength to bring the subject up.

They were educated women...In my group, there were some prominent business women, a couple of them were young - 19 to 20 years old - and one was a doctor. Some were from cities, some were tribal.

I came home more educated myself with many of my misconceptions corrected. These (African) women are educated, they care and they are trying very hard.