On becoming Rachael Ray

Step aside, Rachael Ray- you have just met your match in the kitchen. Even if I don't end up becoming the next Food Network queen, I know plenty of women at Etafeni who will.

I have just returned from a day in Nyanga, a black township on the outskirts of Cape Town. We spent our time touring the community and working at Etafeni, a non-governmental organization (NGO) in the township. This NGO provides employment, support, and childcare to women who are HIV positive. Nyanga has a staggering 75% unemployment rate and 26% of their population is infected with HIV/AIDS. Crime is an hourly occurrence. Most women seen by Etafeni have been raped, abused, abandoned, and much worse.

While these statistics are bleak, the women behind the numbers could not be more vibrant. I was fortunate to be able to get to know many of them as we cooked side by side all morning, preparing lunch for the children in the nursery/preschool. As we chopped vegetables together, I heard incredible stories of strength and determination. These women are not letting HIV rule their lives, and are adamant that none of their peers should either. In a country that has both the highest rates and the severest stigmatization of the disease, their courage is inspirational.

In addition to cooking, many of the women excel at beadwork and sewing. There are a number of rooms set up at Etafeni that provide them with space and comfort for their craft. Since they are working alongside other HIV positive women, the workspace becomes a place for friendship and emotional healing. They can also relax, knowing that their children are safe in the nearby daycare center (those very children, by the way, were so much fun to play with! I was able to hold, feed, and help put some of the infants down for their afternoon naps).

Later in the day as we walked around the township, I had a great conversation with Nkala, an HIV positive mother of two who works at Etafeni. Nkala explained that when she started working at Etafeni four months ago, she was so physically weak and emotionally broken, she felt that she would not live to see another day. Yet, in just four short months, Nkala has managed to turn her life completely around. She is healthy, happy, and hopeful. Her newly acquired craft as a bead worker has fueled her dream to one day open her own jewelry shop. After talking to this incredible young woman, I am confident that Nkala will not only open her own store, but encourage a league of other HIV positive women to take control of their futures as well.

My day at Etafeni was a powerful opportunity to observe how effective public health campaigns are being waged at the grassroots level. The dedicated staff and women of Etafeni totally understand that you can't just fight a virus. Rather, you must empower those suffering from HIV/AIDS to overcome their disease in a holistic way. When women (and men) are able to see themselves as unique human beings with something to offer to the world, the Food Network won't be the only place that should prepare itself for an influx of amazing individuals!