You are living your life for the best of yourself
You are living your life for the best of yourself
Cathy was someone who was respecting her body. She was shocked to see herself HIV positive. Sometimes she could lock up herself in her room and needed nobody to disturb her. “I got a belief that everything is done for a reason and for a purpose. Instead of crying I here, I should go up and tell someone that being abused does not mean that all your future is now painted black.”
Cathy’s aunt has been involved in HIV awareness campaigns and one of the first to be open about her HIV status. She encouraged Cathy to start a support group for young people. Cathy now educates young people living with and affected by HIV. “There is no difference between you and other people. You are living your life for the best of yourself. You are not living your life for the sake of somebody. No matter what they say, no matter what they do.“
“I got a belief that everything is done for a reason and for a purpose"
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?