Through her work as an HIV educator, spokesperson, and programs consultant, Florence has come face-to-face with world leaders to advocate for AIDS relief. She considers it her life’s work to give a voice to the hundreds of thousands of people who, like her, are living with HIV.

In September 1996, Florence gave birth to a daughter named Nomthunzi. Three months later, Florence’s husband died, and Nomthunzi became ill. Fearing the worst, Florence took Nomthunzi to a local hospital. Both she and Florence tested positive for HIV. Nomthunzi fought the disease for several more weeks, but because antiretroviral treatment was not yet available for children in South Africa, the five-month-old baby passed away in February 1997.

My name is Agnes, and I am proud to say that I was not so carried away after discovering that I was HIV-positive. I accepted my diagnosis and started searching for the best way forward. Today, I am living with HIV with courage. I’m not sure where I got my courage from – but it, and my positive attitude, have helped me overcome stigma, which was and still is prevalent where I live.

For Teleza, getting tested for HIV was a new beginning. She came to the antenatal clinic at Bwaila Hospital, a major maternity hospital in the capital city of Lilongwe, Malawi, when she was pregnant last year. She got tested for HIV for the first time there, and when the result came back positive, Teleza says she felt like she could finally take control of her health. “Believe it or not, I was relieved,” Teleza says. “I had been feeling ill for some time, and I was glad to learn why. My next step was to figure out how to deal with it.”

My name is Eduardo. I am 57 years old and live in Matutuine District, Mozambique. I am married and I am a father of 10 children; five of them died, and five are alive and in good health. I am also HIV-positive.

My name is Paulina. I am 18 years old and live in Matutuine District, Mozambique. In 2007, when I was 15 years old, I became pregnant and went to the local health center for my first prenatal visit. At the clinic, I was tested and received the diagnosis that I was HIV-positive. For the remainder of my pregnancy, I continued to visit the clinic for routine check-ups, but I did not follow the doctor´s orders. I was immature, and did not think about my baby´s health and future. Sadly, I didn’t pay much attention to the advice of clinic staff about treating my illness and preventing the transmission of the disease to my unborn child.

My name is Rafina.  I am 24 years old and live in Balama District, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique.  I first became sick in 2000 with chronic diarrhea. In 2008, I developed a terrible cough and was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis.  I took medicine for six months, but the cough would not stop.  I was five months pregnant at the time, and during a routine prenatal care visit, I was tested and diagnosed with HIV.

Yasin is 13 years old and lives with his grandfather in Urambo District, Tanzania. When he was nine, Yasin got sick and his health rapidly deteriorated. His grandfather took him to the Foundation-supported Urambo District Hospital, where a doctor diagnosed him as HIV-positive. "After learning I was HIV-positive, my grandfather told me that both of my parents died of AIDS. I cried with bitterness, but my grandfather told me that the doctors at the hospital promised to treat me and that I would get better," Yasin recalls.

My name is Janice. When I was four, my father became very ill and we later learned that he was diagnosed with AIDS. My mother and I were also diagnosed, but thankfully we were given medication to suppress the virus and keep us healthy. At the time, I didn’t know that we were infected with HIV. After my father died, my mother and I moved to Florida to be closer to family. I grew up a “normal kid” and participated in “normal kid activities” -- but I always wondered why I had to take so many pills for “allergies” when my friends didn’t.