Love story brings HIV/AIDS into the spotlight
Young author said there is still a challenge in this day and age regarding stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
A YOUNG pastor has penned and published a book about HIV/AIDS, in an attempt to create awareness of how people live with the disease.
Kenston Joash Deeplal wrote the book, entitled The Park, A Love Story With A Twist, when he was 18, inspired by his mother, an author who has three top sellers to her name.
“While I was waiting for university acceptance, she said I must do something to keep busy, so I started writing the book, which took me under a year to complete. The information in the book has been endorsed by a doctor, teachers and lecturers,” he said.
Kenston (25) is a DTP designer at Expand A Sign as well as an ordained pastor and is also currently studying psychology and theology. He is the director of advertising of Hope Projects and Word and Light Centre, NPOs which his family run. The organisation feeds up to 30 000 people a year and also offers HIV and trauma counselling.
“I’ve grown up losing people, it is not an easy thing to have someone die in your arms. All my life I have worked with people with HIV/AIDS as a community worker and pastor and have grown up with parents who are pastors, and have worked with people affected by poverty, abuse and HIV/AIDS. The disease has always been a concern for me as I was growing up and in my spare time I helped at an HIV/AIDS orphanage. I feel the community needs to know about the realities of living with the disease as there’s still stigma attached to it,” he said.
He said it was important to understand what happens when people live with the disease, and the book uses fictional characters to show what real people go through.
“The challenge is the stigma. I personally believe people can still live a happy, healthy life, as long as they have family and close friends on their side,” he said.
The book focuses on single motherhood, teen pregnancy, bullying, loneliness, friendship, family, as well as love.
The book is currently available at R120 and can be purchased by contacting Kenston on 078 385 0559.
He also encouraged shopping centres to contact him if they were willing to let him set up a table to distribute pamphlets and do awareness on HIV/AIDS. He is also available to people who would like to see him for counselling.
