John, 25 years old
Is hereby named a #RedRibbonWarrior - Through of his extraordinary courage he is protecting future generations from HIV/AIDS. Over 200 people’s lives have been saved in Lilongwe, Malawi and counting.
“My name is John. I am 25. I am the last born in my family. My father and mother died when I was a baby. I grew up in an orphanage in southern Malawi, and I was there from 1995 to 2005. I moved to Lilongwe to live with my eldest brother in 2006. I was 8 years old at an orphanage, that’s when I knew that I was HIV positive.
HIV is real, I have it my whole life. I remember the rumors about people with HIV, they were said to be separated to live in their own houses away from others. Yes, stigma is there, but it’s about you! You decide! You have to accept your status as a part of who you are. If you accept yourself and your status, stigma and discrimination is USELESS because you have acceptance in yourself. If you accept yourself, it doesn’t matter what someone else can say.
I feel my purpose in life is to help the youth. My dream for young people in Malawi, whether HIV negative or positive, is to live a healthy life. Dealing with adolescent issues in life is what I love. That is my passion. In 2007, there was a position which was posted asking for expert clients. I decided to try my chance. Lucky enough, I started working with in February 2017. I now run the Teen Club. Right now I have 200 adolescents I am supporting to live positively.
I can help my friends counseling them to accept themselves, address adherence issues, as I have been there and struggled. The goal of the teen club is about self-acceptance. They know I’m HIV positive. I am able to advise other youth because I am in their shoes. Taking ART, we are together like a family understanding one another and how we have to handle life. To me, I would say to another youth out there and in teen club when they see John, they see John is well. But they also know I'm HIV positive. I think most of the youth listen to what I say because they see how I live and what I do, and they take from what I am doing.
I’m aiming high in my dreams. Yes I want to get married, and I want to have a family. I am an artist. In years to come I want to have a stronger business for my arts and have a place so other youth can be taught how to make arts and crafts and have a business. I also love listening to music and doing my art work. Especially paper beads.
I can say John is a role model to teens. John is a young person who is an artist. John is a student, eager to learn new things.”
