“My attitude towards my own life has completely changed. Before everything seemed dark, I felt like I had no future, that it was all over. But it turned out that life is so wonderful, and I´m only at the beginning of my journey!” A Tajik woman living with HIV who took part in the Antistigma project told, with tears in her eyes.
A virtual round table held on 12 August to discuss the results of the project brought together partners from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and The Netherlands. Despite the fact that the meeting was held online, it was very emotional. The program of “Photovoices” used in the project made it possible for people who had lost faith in themselves to tell their story and express their feelings through photographs. Those who visited the exhibition were full of sympathy and understanding, allowing the authors of the photos to feel supported, realize that they´re not alone, and are able to change their lives.
The initial hope was that the project participants – people living with HIV – would be able to overcome the internal stigma, shame, insecurity, and fear associated with being diagnosed with HIV. But most of the project participants went much further. One improved her relationships with loved ones, another found a good job, another started a family. Everyone without exception decided to help people living with HIV to accept themselves, free themselves from guilt and to feel like a fully-fledged person, worthy of love and respect.
The project “Antistigma”, implemented by public organizations NGO “SPIN Plus” and the “Tajikistan Network of Women Living with HIV” NGO TNWplus with the support of AFEW Kazakhstan and AFEW International is part of the program “Bridging the Gaps: health and rights for key populations” funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
