Frederick Wanzere: "I am a mechanic now but one day I will go back to university"

Frederick Wanzere, 25, was lucky enough to go to university, but when his guardian (an uncle) found out he was HIV-positive, he stopped paying the fees. Wanzere has had to become a mechanic to help his younger siblings. He told IRIN/PlusNews his story.

"At times life turns out to be what you don't even expect. When I lost my parents while still in secondary school I thought that would be the last misery I would ever have to go through in life. But I did not want to appear miserable because my young brothers and sister were looking up to me to give them hope.

"I worked pretty hard at school because I knew education was the best avenue for that longed-for hope and inspiration. So when results did come out and I realised I had qualified to join the university, I was very delighted. Even though I had always wanted to be a journalist, I was not disappointed to go to the university to study education.

"When I joined the university, I joined a group of friends from my old school. Due to the freedom people experience in public universities, we started drinking and entertaining girls and at times we could even visit brothels in town. While I was in my second year, I got saved and joined the Christian Union. The university AIDS control unit, in partnership with the students union, started running campaigns for students to go for HIV tests and I followed the cue. I realised I was HIV positive.

"At first it struck me hard but I went for several counselling sessions within the Christian Union. When I went back home at the end of the semester, I did what I thought was right and informed my uncle, who was my guardian and who was paying my college fees. He became mad at me and plucked me out of the university, saying he could not waste his resources on me. He even accused me of behaving like my mother whom he claimed had infected my father with HIV.

"I lost hope completely but later approached a pastor I had known earlier; he said he could approach a friend of his who could teach me mechanical work. I agreed and that is the reason I am a mechanic now, but one day I will go back to university because I know I will live long to pursue my dreams.”

ko/kr/cb