Towards Sisterhood – the story of Michelle

Illustration of a woman with a yellow headscarf and hoop earring holding her hand up to a blue butterfly, set against a pink abstract background—an image that reflects activist support for sharing personal stories.
Last updated on: 27 August 2025

Today, Michelle is a proud peer educator, working to reduce HIV infections, promote access to health services, and support young sex workers in making empowered choices. Her story is one of strength, transformation, and hope. Michelle guided the creation of this video, choosing how her story would be told and in what format—ensuring it’s told on her own terms, in her own way.

The story of Michelle

Growing up in rural Zimbabwe during a time of famine, Michelle faced hardship from a young age—walking for hours to find food and navigating a childhood marked by poverty and vulnerability. As a teenager, she was exploited by men who offered transport and money in exchange for sex, often under violent and coercive conditions. But her story took a turn when she found community and support among fellow sex workers.

 

 

The Hands Off programme

70% of sex workers in Southern Africa report experiencing violence. Reducing violence can lower their risk of HIV by 25%. Through the Hands Off programme, Aidsfonds and its partners in Southern Africa work towards supportive laws and protective services, care and support to secure the safety and wellbeing of sex workers – ultimately reducing their risk of HIV. The programme is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mozambique.