No matter what anyone thinks I believe I am blessed

Primrose’s mother did not wake her up to give Primrose her pills. She thought she was playing so she shook her and shook her until her aunt came and saw she was dead. “Why I struggled all my life is I never really grieved for her because I was sick. I defaulted. I did not take those pills, I hated it. I thought if I fasted enough, if I prayed enough, I would somehow impress Him so that he can just say HIV… gone. But it’s not how life works.

As much as oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life. Yes, hope is that awesome realization that life is worth living. I was supposed to be dead that’s what I believe. No matter what anyone thinks I believe I am blessed. There is no circumstance strong enough to make God leave me. The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do unto me, what can HIV do unto me.”

"Yes, hope is that awesome realization that life is worth living"

Documentary for advocacy

Young people living with HIV in Zimbabwe are leading change: they expressed the need for a platform to create a better understanding of the gaps in health and education services and to lobby for increased support. Therefore, a documentary series has been developed showcasing stories of four young people living with HIV.

Having young people living with HIV in the lead in the initiation and development of the documentary, and being the stars of the documentary themselves, proved to be an empowering process. It helped to give them a voice and agency in challenging the dominant stereotypes and labelling of young people living with HIV.

The meaningful involvement of young people ensured that the documentary messages are based on the realities and the needs on the ground. Because, who else than young people know best what young people need?