A Young Mother Rediscovers Herself Through DREAMS

Vanice Naturinda was living her best life at age 19, staying with her older sister and making her own money in Mbarara, a big city in southwest Uganda. She had learned several handicrafts skills, including basket weaving and was earning a decent living.

One day, as she was vending her wares, Vanice caught the eye of young, handsome welder. What started out as a few smiles and conversations grew into lunch every day at their favorite street restaurant. When it came to taking the relationship to the next step, Vanice was firm that her boyfriend take an HIV test before they had sex.

Fortunately, there has been a long and ubiquitous public awareness campaign about HIV. The Mbarara highway is filled with billboard messages about HIV, helping to make testing and prevention part of the lifestyle for many young people. Vanice’s boyfriend agreed to the test, and they were happy to learn that they were both HIV-negative. The young couple decided to use condoms.

However, as their relationship grew, they stopped using condoms, and Vanice got pregnant.

“He did not seem afraid that I was pregnant,” says Vanice, “but then he told me he was going to his village to check on his farm and prepare for us—and then he disappeared.”

Vanice felt that she couldn’t stay in the city and let people see her single and pregnant, so she ran to the countryside—to the village of Kanyamizi to live with a relative.

“I hated myself; I wanted to end my life,” she says.

Fortunately, Petra Birungi, a DREAMS ambassador, had noticed the pregnant young newcomer and knew that she might be a great fit for DREAMS Lite. It took several conversations, but Vanice finally attended a meeting, and her life has never been the same again.

It took several conversations, but Vanice finally attended a meeting, and her life has never been the same again.

The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) partnership is a public-private partnership to reduce rates of HIV among adolescent girls and young women in the highest HIV burden countries. In 2015, 10 DREAMS countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, accounted for nearly half of all the new HIV infections that occurred among AGYW globally.

DREAMS Lite is part of the USAID RHITES-SW project implemented by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). This program is designed for all girls and young women, not just those who are living with HIV.

Vanice was touched that there were other young women who worried about surviving without a man, who struggled with shame, HIV risk, and poverty—but who also held glimmers of hope in their hearts.

EGPAF Gender Program officer Esther Akao says that life has changed in the village since DREAMS Lite began.

“The girls see shiny, beautiful clothes in the shops on market day,” says Akao. They see jewelry and cool shoes and well-done hair. What young girl doesn’t want that? But it’s the how to get it that can turn either way.

“DREAMS Lite provides a safe space for young women to rediscover themselves, their talent, build new thoughts about their futures, stay HIV-free—and we see them improve their lives and bring peace to their homes, extended families, and communities.”

Vanice now has her own model home in which to raise her child. It is clean, with handwashing stations, mosquito nets, and her welcoming voice. And she is back making her crafts again.

Vanice has her smile back. While she already had some skills, she now also has a community, and enhanced peer and professional support. She gave birth to a healthy baby at the health center, and was provided access to family planning methods.

Vanice now has her own model home in which to raise her child. It is clean, with handwashing stations, mosquito nets, and her welcoming voice. And she is back making her crafts again.