*Ntombi

In 2009 I started a relationship and was very happy. In 2010 I lost a lot of weight. I went to the clinic and they drew blood. After a month they told me I have HIV/AIDS. Just like that. I couldn’t handle it. I drank tablets. But then I discovered alcohol takes away the hurt.In 2011 I drank poison because he knew (my boyfriend) he gave me the disease yet now he blames me for him being sick yet when I met him he was sick already. I walked out of the relationship but returned because I felt he owed me something. I tried to get along on my own. In June 2014 I met Juliana so that I could share my story. But I didn’t have the courage to tell my story.With Juliana’s second phase I also attended because the stories I heard were very inspiring. I thought it was the end of my life but thanks to Gender Links (GL) I know so much now. The workshops took my mind off the hurt.Before the workshops I drank a lot but I don’t drink anymore. Thanks to Gender Links I live again sad have a lot to do in the community and for myself. I overcame the self-regret that I had.He knew that he was HIV positive but didn’t tell me that he was sick. We were together for a year when I found that I am becoming sick and have the virus. I thought my life ended because it is a deadly disease.I told my boyfriend about what I learned at Gender Links and we took it from there. Today we are living healthy, he takes his medication and our relationship is good.In 2030 I would like to run my own business. I learned so much that I have to go and sit down and decide. Previously I had my own business but it failed. Gender Links gave me hope again. Now I am much stronger and believe in myself, something I didn’t do previously. I can reach out to other people and share my own experiences.I can now open up towards my family. We can now talk about my boyfriend. My sister in the past never wanted to talk about it and neither did I but now that our lives have changed and we can talk about what happened.I learned that one must talk and that it is good to talk. You feel much better once you have talked.Last night I told him what I learned yesterday and he listened. I told him that with his help and Gender Links’s help I can do a lot. I told him next year June (2016) I want to own my own business because I am stronger than what I was. I am grateful to God because He placed people in my life like Juliana.I have not worked out a plan yet but with the help of the Lord I will get there. Before I encountered GL I drank a lot and now I am doing business although it is not how I would like it to be.When I changed my life a lot of family and friends came to learn from me and they would like to know when then can join too.