AIDS Education
Mponela, Malawi … Mining and the exporting of precious stones is not a major industry in tiny Malawi. Yet, a growing number of gems are appearing there . . . single, shiny pearls attached to tiny elastic bands.
Through the Malawi Project thousands of these imitation pearl bracelets are being given to girls and young women who make a commitment to their future. The tiny imitation pearls, worth only a fraction of a penny, may prove to be worth more than silver or gold to the girls in Malawi who wear them.
When Jesus explained the value of his coming kingdom He referred to it as a precious pearl for which the wise merchant would sell everything in order to obtain (Matthew 13:45-46) In the book of Revelation the writer John, in giving a picture of what heaven would be like, used pearls to give us a picture of the value of the gates (Revelation 21:21).
These Biblical stories are used to indicate the value of a pearl and the symbolic value of the tiny pearl imitations. Then the American teachers, and their Malawi counterparts at other times of the year, teach the young girls about the seriousness of AIDS in Malawi. The seriousness of their choices can actually be life or death for the young girls who succumb to sexual activity outside of and before marriage. The teachers encourage the girls and young women to wait until marriage to engage in sex and to commit themselves to one man for life. The lessons are supplemented with an 8-page booklet produced by the Malawi Project in Chichewa that outlines the causes of AIDS. Ways the HIV/AIDS virus can be contracted, in addition to sexual activity are outlined in the booklet.
At the end of the teaching sessions the girls are encouraged to make a commitment to a life of sexual purity and marriage to one man. Each girl who signs a pledge is given the tiny pearl bracelet and encouraged to wear it as a remembrance of her commitment. The older women in the churches take note of the girls who sign the pledge and they too, make a promise. Their promise is one of support and encouragement to the girls and a pledge to encourage the girls and young women away from relationships and activities that will threaten their commitment.
