HIV/Aids and shame

Kayla is afraid that being HIV positive will cause her classmates and friends to cast her out. This keeps her from being honest in her relationships, and as a result, she isolates herself. In turn, she ends up resenting her friends and becoming lonely. But when Kayla confesses what she is going through, she finds solidarity and peace. She learns that when dealing with sexual health issues, it is important to find a support group where she can express herself freely. Kayla’s honesty also helps her classmates to become more aware of predatory behaviour from their classmates, and the importance of using protection and being clued up on sexual health. This helps to reduce stigma in her school, and it encourages others to come forward with their own troubles. Are you going through something similar? If you are, you can educate yourself here and start to look for help and support.

Activism

At the end, the girls form a support group. This kind of activism can be a powerful tool, both to support people going through difficulties, and also to challenge prejudiced attitudes and behaviours.