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Inside/out with Eleanor Alfred, HIV/AIDS activist
Kubatana.net
July 02, 2009

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Describe yourself in five words?
Myself is me. And I live in the present moment.

What-s the best piece of advice you-ve ever received?
If you love someone, that love returns to you. It is like a belt. Just love.

What-s the most ridiculous thing you-ve ever done?
I had money for school fees for only twenty kids, then I took twenty-five. I ended up talking to the headmaster and they all went to school!

What is your most treasured possession?
My treasure is my kids (that were adopted from Caledonia Farm).

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
When one of the kids I look after is sick and needs testing, then not [having] the money to go on with the process. That pains me more than not [having food or even money for fees].

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My structure (the way I look). I want to be a little bit fat.

What is your greatest extravagance?
If I have black tea, Makoni Tea, with a sweet bun, the ones that have a little sugar on the top, then I-m living the 'high-life.-

What have you got in your fridge?
We have a fridge, but there isn-t electricity. There isn-t anything in the fridge. We cook with firewood.

What is your greatest fear?
Cats.

What have you got in your pockets right now?
Nothing.

What is your favourite journey?
Caledonia Farm, to walk around and see how people are living.

Who are your heroes in real life?
My mum, Rita. She-s lovely, even when she has very little she will share that with a child.

When and where were you happiest?
The day when I was told I-m going to India. I went to the Art of Living Conference. The part I enjoyed most was packing my suitcase. I had never been on a plane.

What-s your biggest vice?
They say we're not supposed to eat fast food. But chicken and chips . . .

What were you like at school?
I wasn-t very good at school. I was only good at studying. I liked History and Geography, Chichewa and Shona.

What are you doing next?
I want my kids to grow up, go to school, go to university and be what they want to be . . . artists. I think they can give something back to the community. If I die today I want my community to continue with my legacy.

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