A Mural is Worth How Many Words?

As I wrote in my previous post, one of the highlights of my trip down south was visiting my old site Guija, in Gaza province. My old site mate, Elisabetta, had received funds to paint a mural educating community members about HIV/Aids prevention and ways of healthy living for those who have HIV, hygiene and malaria prevention, and to simply commemorate last years flood. It was awesome getting to be a part of this project, not to mention a lot of fun painting. Here are some pictures...

Step 1: Paint the wall white...

Step 2: The artists sketch and then stencil in (via a projector) the drawing for the mural.

Step 3: Invite the community and don't be a afraid to get a little dirty...

The two artists from Chicumbane, in Gaza province (about 2 hours from Guija)who drew the mural design, painted all the incredibly detailed spaces and also went through fixing everyone else's errors...

Elisabetta encouraged other hospital workers (and community members) to help out; she wanted everyone to feel like the mural was something they helped create and should be proud of.

I think he painted this spot at least three times...needles to say the grass was very green.

Even the criancas wanted to help!

All the PCVs hard at work (once the big spaces disappeared to paint most of the locals went home...)

And here's a picture of my friend Mindy and her adorable son, Sebastian. They came all the way from Maputo to help out!

Step 4: Try to increase awareness and education in a community where illiteracy rates are incredibly low, and HIV rates are alarmingly high. Elisabetta also chose to write the messages in each board (aside from the last) in the local language, Changana, with hopes that more people would understand the messages.

Panel 1: Our Health is in Our Hands.

Panel 2: Prevention Begins with Our Hygiene
(malaria prevention/water preservation methods...both of which can present huge problems in a post-flood environment an d everyday life here!)

Panel 3: Always look ahead, be strong Guija!

Here's to hoping the mural does help to spread awareness and educate community members in a non-traditional way!