Young + positive
AIDS is the leading cause of death among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa and the second globally.
“HIV does not define me.”
Pretty much every young person living with HIV will have been through some heartbreaking challenges, but to portray them as victims would be to ignore the strength in Mariam, the feistiness in Daphine, or the burning activist that is Arkar.
They are using their experiences to prevent new infections and to show other young positive people that you can live a healthy, fulfilled life with HIV.
All pictures in this gallery for Frontline AIDS. Unless stated, being featured is not an indication of HIV status.
Peer outreach workers relax at 'the beach'.
Lake Victoria, Uganda.
Lake Victoria, Uganda.
"I thought after my mother’s death I was really going to be nothing, I thought I would die anytime.
I thought HIV positive people never get married, I thought I’d never get anyone to love me, and I’d never be happy." - Daphine, 19, Kampala (right).
I thought HIV positive people never get married, I thought I’d never get anyone to love me, and I’d never be happy." - Daphine, 19, Kampala (right).
Dancing draws a crowd and young people gather for entertainment, condom demonstrations and to chat.
“I can only dress as I truly feel among this group”, says Rashida, a young transgender woman from Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Nahimana gave birth to her first child while just a child herself at age 13.
Now 22, with two children, she reflects on how hard it's been at times.
Bujumbura, Burundi.
Now 22, with two children, she reflects on how hard it's been at times.
Bujumbura, Burundi.
Nahimana does everything she can to support her children, selling fruit at a market and also selling sex.
She's studying ICT and is being supported emotionally and practically by a youth organisation, RNJ+.
She's studying ICT and is being supported emotionally and practically by a youth organisation, RNJ+.
More opportunities for girls.
"I hope I can support my daughter's education, so she can finish her studies and find a job" - Nahimana.
"I hope I can support my daughter's education, so she can finish her studies and find a job" - Nahimana.
Daphine and her friend on the set of 'Love a Positive Life' , a film about Daphine's young experiences.
Friends celebrating the end of filming at Lake Victoria, Uganda.
Chifundo, 23, (name changed) a young mother and sex worker, at home in Mchinji, Malawi.
Chifundo's phone number is by the door, along with faded numbers of young women who have lived here before her.
Chifundo's phone number is by the door, along with faded numbers of young women who have lived here before her.
“Last night an officer stormed into my room,” says Chifundo “He didn’t have money, but he wanted ‘a short time'.
I've been raped by police officers five times."
"Health workers and police should treat us like any other person, not stigmatise us, but treat us like they would treat their own kid."
I've been raped by police officers five times."
"Health workers and police should treat us like any other person, not stigmatise us, but treat us like they would treat their own kid."
"My sister tells me that lots of people are taking ARVS and living normal lives, so not to feel frightened about it.”
On Malnicherra, Bangladesh's oldest tea plantation, sex is taboo and teenage pregnancies and new HIV infections are high.
Youth groups are meeting after school to break the taboo and the associated trends.
Youth groups are meeting after school to break the taboo and the associated trends.
“I can’t believe I’m this person because I thought my life had really ended with what happened when I was 12" - Mariam, Kampala.
Mariam had her daughter at age 13. She says that the labour was "a blur" but remembers feeling both “happy but also sad”.
“I was wondering. ‘How am I going to look after this baby, after the way everyone had talked at home? A baby without a father?”
She called her daughter Gift.
“I was wondering. ‘How am I going to look after this baby, after the way everyone had talked at home? A baby without a father?”
She called her daughter Gift.
Mariam found out she was living with HIV during her pregnancy. She was not accessing ARVs.
Soon after Gift's birth Mariam became ill and was admitted to hospital, leaving her grandmother to look after her baby.
Soon after Gift's birth Mariam became ill and was admitted to hospital, leaving her grandmother to look after her baby.
Once Mariam recovered she joined a young mothers group at MildMay Uganda.
Before long, she was selected to become a peer educator, talking to other young women about sexual and reproductive health, sexual rights and HIV.
“I really loved the training a lot,” says Mariam. “I gained hope, and started to feel less stressed, I saw there was a future for me."
Before long, she was selected to become a peer educator, talking to other young women about sexual and reproductive health, sexual rights and HIV.
“I really loved the training a lot,” says Mariam. “I gained hope, and started to feel less stressed, I saw there was a future for me."
“I’m so determined to look after Gift, to see her through school, to make sure she gets a job and stuff. I don’t want Gift to have the same life I had."
“My grandmother suggested that I should maybe get married so that I could have someone to take care of me and of Gift, but I think maybe it’s not time yet!"
Peer-to-peer condom demonstration.
Daphine by a sign that sums up her attitude!
Daphine, now 21, co-chaired a session with Princess Mabel of the Netherlands at AIDS 2018 in Amsterdam.
“I think it’s because of the film (Love a Positive Life) that I’m getting more opportunities to represent young people living with HIV."
“I think it’s because of the film (Love a Positive Life) that I’m getting more opportunities to represent young people living with HIV."