No one expects their dreams to be interrupted by a diagnosis. Especially not at 19—when the world is just opening up, and your future feels limitless.
This is the story of one young person whose life was shattered by stigma, then rebuilt through strength, support, and the power of community. It’s also the story of how the project “Empowering Voices for Inclusive Development: Strengthening Civil Society Organizations in Uzbekistan”—implemented by AFEW International and Nurbonu, with financial support of the European Union—is transforming lives by helping young people and women living with HIV reclaim their dignity, confidence, and rightful place in society. It begins with rejection—but ends in resilience.
“They told me to pack my bags and go home. Just like that. Because I had AIDS.” Donier (name is changed), a teenager from Samarkand.
That’s how it started. I was 19, full of dreams, studying abroad, and proud to be the first in my family to leave the country for university. Since childhood, I had a vision: to study, succeed, have a big family, and live with dignity. When I got accepted to a university abroad, my father’s pride gave me wings. University life was exciting. I studied hard, explored art and languages, and felt like I was becoming the person I always hoped to be. Then, everything changed.
During a routine student health check, I was told I had HIV. I was stunned. I didn’t feel sick. But suddenly, I was pulled out of class, sent to the dean’s office, and told to leave—go home and “start treatment”. A doctor came to speak to me. I barely remember his words, only the heavy silence that followed: You are HIV positive. That night, and many nights after, I didn’t sleep. I searched the internet constantly. How long would I live? What did this mean? Would my family be shamed? Would my father stop being proud? The fear wasn’t just of dying. It was of losing everything—my identity, my future, my place in my family.
Eventually, I returned home. With shaking hands and a broken voice, I told my father. He didn’t flinch, didn’t judge. He said: We will face this together. He took me to the AIDS center. The diagnosis was confirmed. I began treatment. I was tired, confused, and scared. I wanted to talk to someone—anyone—who understood what it meant to live with HIV. That’s when I was referred to Nurbonu, an NGO that supports young people living with HIV. And that’s where my life began again. At Nurbonu, I found people like me. Young people, strong people, people who weren’t ashamed of their status. They talked to me, listened to me, showed me that life doesn’t end with HIV. I re-enrolled in university. I made friends who accepted me. I found love, and started a family. I found purpose—real purpose—by helping others walk this same path.
Today, I work with Nurbonu, helping other young people living with HIV learn how to live fully, take their medication, speak up, and never feel alone. Together, we fight stigma, educate others, and show the world that being HIV positive does not mean being powerless.
P.S. Since 2024, AFEW International in partnership with Nurbonu and with financial support from the European Union, has been implementing the project “Empowering Voices for Inclusive Development: Strengthening Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Uzbekistan,” with a focus on women and youth. The initiative aims to enhance the capacities of 15 local CSOs that provide essential support to people living with HIV (PLHIV) and those affected by HIV, with a specific focus on women and youth. The objective is to mitigate stigma and discrimination against individuals with HIV and those affected by it using a unique Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach.
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of Nurbonu and AFEW International and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
