KidsRights Heroes: Nkosi Johnson from South Africa

Hi. My name is Nkosi and I am from Johannesburg, South Africa. I was born with hiv my mother had aids when I was conceived. Because my mother could no longer care for me, I went to live with my foster mother Gail. Gail helped me to get into my school, and we made the news because of this. You see, a court case was required to allow me to go to school. A large number of parents were afraid that I would infect the other children. You cant get aids simply from sitting in the same classroom as me; it doesnt work like that. However, very few people here actually know that.
At the International aids Conference in 2000, I gave a speech that I wrote myself. I wanted to say the following to the world: Care for us and accept us - we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else. Dont be afraid of us - we are all the same.

Postscript by KidsRights:
Nkosi died just before his twelfth birthday. After his foster mother won the court case for him, he became a national celebrity. Provincial educational institutions throughout the entire country were forced to devise new policies. Nkosis case also influenced a new wave of understanding and compassion for the plight of aids patients. For this reason, the Childrens Peace Prize for 2005 was awarded to him posthumously. Nkosi was a hero, and we shall never forget him.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• KidsRights
• kinderrechten
• kindervredesprijs
• kinderen
• children's
• Peace
• Prize
• aids
• hiv
• hero
• south
• africa

[kevinwadeheat]

man he died so young