Tags: hiv/aids

Thandiwe left her home in Manzini, Swaziland to seek employment in Lobombo District, where she found work at a sugar plantation. She was diagnosed with HIV in 2001. Today she lives positively with support from colleagues and the company.

Tapiwa grew up in Zimbabwe, watching his father manipulate and control his mother. Wondering why women and men are not equals, he joined a gender club while in secondary school and eventually became an activist. He is happy that over the years his father has changed and, like him, now speaks out against gender violence and discrimination.

Morapedi is a young South African man who is eager to continue his education. He mourns the loss of his sister-in-law and regrets he was unable to challenge his older brother, who abused and beat her. Eventually, Morapedi's brother began sleeping around and infected the sister-in-law with HIV, which led to her death. Morapedi wonders how women, who are the soul of the nation, can be treated so badly.