FROM DISCLOSURE THROUGH TO LIVING POSITIVELY |
For a teenager in a developing country, life can be a challenge with education, social and environmental issues impacting their daily lives. For a teenager with HIV there are much broader issues of stigma, discrimination, disclosure and acceptance . By offering support groups to help teenagers and children we can help build their confidence and change their lives for the better.
Peggy came to TTF in 2012 after being diagnosed as HIV+. At only 13 she was too young for us to disclose her status directly to her, so the staff at the TTF Clinic worked with her family and support network to help them in the disclosure process. She was already very shy and upon learning of her diagnosis became very closed, often unwilling to speak to her friends and peers. |
Our team at the TTF Clinic decided that in order help her she would need additional support and advice, therefore we enrolled her into our children’s retreat support group to help her understand her status, deal with disclosure, positive living and build a support network of peers to help her. We caught up with her after the 6 months support group to see how she was doing:
"I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE INFECTED WITH HIV UNTIL I CAME TO THE RETREATS, COMING HERE HAS HELPED ME TALK OPENLY ABOUT MY STATUS". PEGGY, AGED 16
“Before coming to the TTF children's retreat, even though I had been coming to the Clinic, I thought I was the only one infected with HIV. I was always scared and didn’t really want to talk to any one about it.
Coming to the first retreat felt good, I realized I was not the only one with HIV, that there were others who were HIV+. I have really enjoyed coming to the retreats, they have helped me to make friends and understand that being scared wont help me. Instead I want to be more open and encourage my friends that are still shy to open up and get more help, because by coming to TTF and to the retreats others will learn how to keep themselves safe and lead healthy positive lives. |
I know that HIV cannot be cured, but that I can lead a healthy life if I take care of myself. Coming to the retreats has helped me to talk openly about my status. I feel more confident in life and I now even talk to my friends at school about HIV and how they should access VCT (Voluntary Counselling and Testing).”
Since leaving the TTF childrens retreats, Peggy has enrolled in our teen support group to help her in medication adherence, disclosure to others, and to deal with some of the issues she is currently facing as a teenager.
Our support groups form a vital part of TTF’s programmes. By working with children, teenagers and the care givers to build their confidence, help them with difficult situations and form networks, we aim to ensure that children and adolescents can live positive, healthy lives.
Learn more about how we help children through our support groups >>
Our support groups form a vital part of TTF’s programmes. By working with children, teenagers and the care givers to build their confidence, help them with difficult situations and form networks, we aim to ensure that children and adolescents can live positive, healthy lives.
Learn more about how we help children through our support groups >>