These words reflect the aspirations of young women and adolescent girls participating in the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Hayatna (“our lives” in Juba Arabic) project in South Sudan. The project continues the DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS Free, Mentored and Safe) initiative begun in Juba County, South Sudan, in 2020. DREAMS, a public-private partnership of the U.S. President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief, seeks to improve health outcomes for vulnerable families and reduce the risk of HIV among adolescent girls and young women ages 15–24. Hayatna is led by Jhpiego with consortium local partners, National Empowerment of Positive Women United, Young Positives South Sudan and Active Youth Agency. The goal of Hayatna is to enhance health outcomes for children, adolescents and vulnerable families and to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women.
Previous work supporting adolescent girls and young women under DREAMS was funded through the U. S. Agency for International Development’s Adolescents and Children HIV Incidence Reduction, Empowerment and Virus Elimination (ACHIEVE) project, a global consortium led by Pact with partners Jhpiego, Palladium, No Means No Worldwide and WI-HER. Young women and adolescents facing economic hardship received education, skills building and job training to prevent and treat HIV, stay healthy and thrive. More than 2,100 young women have graduated from that program’s internship opportunities.
Meet four young women who share the progress they have made in their lives.
Leaving a Gang Behind
Diana David Hakim was in a girl gang and proud of it. As a member of the Wrong Girls, Diana teamed up with other adolescents to roam their community, causing havoc. There were countless fights, she says now. Some involved machetes. People got hurt.
“I was living a dangerous life,” the 22-year-old admits. “Indeed, it was very risky. I could not even listen to anyone, including my family.”
But the DREAMS project offered Diana another path: education on sexual and reproductive health, ways to avoid an unwanted pregnancy and services for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors. Through DREAMS, this Wrong Girl saw how she could get right with herself and the world.
Diana took account of herself, acknowledged the negative impact of her previous actions, and recognized that she could write a different ending to her story, one she could be proud of. She began to listen to her parents and treat people in the neighborhood with respect.
I am now an empowered young woman and through the DREAMS (activities), I now know my HIV status. I am on family planning and also received post-GBV services. I have seen a lot of changes in my life now, and I appreciate DREAMS for . . . showing us the pathways to the future.”
Her path includes a catering training program sponsored by DREAMS partner, Radisson Blu. Says Diana, “I want to be my own boss and have my place in the future.”
A Newfound Confidence and HIV Awareness
Body shaming took an emotional toll on Alana John Musa, a 22-year-old who faced stigma and discrimination over her weight and appearance. Shy and fearful, Alana felt the pressure of being overweight and the false suggestion that she was older and unmarried. This led her to transactional sex, risking her health and enduring abuse from some clients. Alana was unaware of her HIV status because she knew nothing about HIV or sexually transmitted infections. That all changed when she was introduced to the DREAMS initiative. She enrolled in DREAMS classes and gained a profound understanding of HIV. She decided to be tested; the result was negative.
I now have the ability to plan for my life and future. As a strong and determined DREAMS participant, I have become independent and accountable for my actions. I now confidently visit health facilities for HIV testing, and, thanks to the HIV prevention program, I have acquired so much prevention literacy that I am able to make informed decisions. I am also now educating other young girls in my community about HIV and those in risky relationships to be initiated on PrEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis].”
Alana John Musa
Alana’s next goal is to enroll in a liquid soap-making training. Upon completion of these courses, she wants to establish a vibrant business in liquid and bar soap making and use the proceeds to enroll in school and pursue a career helping her community: “My ultimate aspiration is to become a doctor one day.”
Overcoming Barriers to a Purpose-Driven Life
At age 14, Teresa Nyaku had to drop out of school because her parents couldn’t afford her school fees. That left her vulnerable and idle and at a loss for how to improve her life. But then she joined the DREAMS project and found a purpose.
The DREAMS program gave me all my lost hope and confidence back. I am empowered and now know my rights and believe that I will do better than I thought.”
Teresa Nyak
Through the DREAMS activities, Teresa received HIV testing and post-GBV services and obtained a national identity card, which is critical to attaining employment and government services. She then joined the Radisson Blu hospitality training program, graduating with skills to work in food services.
“Wearing that graduation gown really meant a lot to me and my family,” Teresa said, “because I never thought or imagined that one day my life will change . . . I’m now a skilled and strong girl who can afford to buy herself sanitary pads, nice dresses and support my parents, because I am now employed by Radisson Blu hotel in the kitchen department.”
An Aspiring Chef
A rebellious teenager, Ronecia Robert had a tumultuous past before she joined the DREAMS initiative for adolescents. Low self-esteem, anger management issues and serial sexual encounters led the 23-year-old into relationships that compromised her health, including dealing with a serious sexually transmitted infection.
Through the DREAMS project, however, Ronecia attended educational empowerment sessions and learned how to socialize with others, value her body and manage her temper.
“The DREAMS program has given me hope and guided me to have aspirations in life,” she said.
Today, she is transformed, has taken charge of her health and celebrates a positive attitude. She knows her HIV status, educates peers on HIV prevention, condom use and the positive aspects of PrEP, encouraging them to also prioritize their health and wellbeing.
Ronecia plans to enroll as a catering trainee with partner Radisson Blu to fulfill her dream of being a professional chef: “I am going to get training on catering and thereafter, start my own business. This will help me cater for my basic daily needs and cope better in this harsh economy.”
Kelly Curran, Sr. Technical Director of HIV and Infectious Diseases, provided technical review of this article.
Kumbirai Tudor Mazaiwana is the DREAMS Activity Manager in Jhpiego’s South Sudan office.