My Dream for Me
Any adolescent dreams about her future. Who will I be? What will be my place in the world? She dreams of fulfilling work, friendships, independence. These dreams are too often dashed by hostile realities. For adolescent girls, the risk of acquiring HIV can be a barrier to achieving their dreams. Adolescent girls and young women living in sub-Saharan Africa are 14 times more likely to acquire. HIV than their male counterparts; the leading cause of death for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa is AIDS-related.
Recognizing that health is often determined by circumstance, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) launched the DREAMS program in 2015. DREAMS stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe and is active in 15 countries. Data shows that new HIV diagnoses among adolescent girls and young women have declined in all geographic areas implementing DREAMS—by as much at 40 percent.
DREAMS creates a safe space where adolescent girls and young women gather during the week and, with the help of a facilitator, share knowledge on issues that are relevant to their lives, such as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, business creation, and education. Working with peers, DREAMS participants develop plans to make their dreams real. The DREAMS program even provides micro-grants to help the young women start businesses. All of this occurs in a supportive atmosphere that encourages confidence, solidarity, and joy.
These are stories of some young DREAMers in Mozambique.
Fight for Your Dreams
Now 22, Joana had a difficult childhood. Born in Inhambane Province, Mozambique, Joana lost her parents to HIV when she was 8 years old and went to live with her maternal grandmother in the capital city of Maputo. As an adolescent, Joana had to drop out of school because she did not have the fees.
Out of school and out of work, Joana had a baby, but she eventually agreed to give custody of her son to the father because she did not have enough money to feed him.
Feeling hopeless about her prospects, Joana moved back to Inhambane Province, where she was introduced to DREAMS, which stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe. DREAMS is a USAID initiative the aims to reduce HIV transmission while empowering young women. Joana was a skeptic at first.
“When I started attending the sessions, I wasn’t even interested in joining DREAMS,” she says. “but little-by-little, I became interested in the topics they addressed and started to participate in the debates.
“One day, when I was participating in the session on life skills, our mentor Nélia said something that marked me for life: ‘Many girls think that when they become mothers, life ends for them, but it is not true, you can go on with your life and be whatever you want.’ That was an injection of motivational energy because after that my life changed.” Joana decided to fight for her well- being.
Today Joana works as a DREAMS ambassador. She is one of hundreds of adolescent girls and young women in the Maxixe District of Inhambane Province, who receive psychosocial support, participate in life skills sessions on such issues as HIV prevention, violence prevention, financial literacy, and education.
At the age of 20, Joana went back to Grade 10 and joined savings group where she stood out for her quick comprehension skills. She learned how to be a hairdresser and started braiding people’s hair and saving money. Because of her dedication and commitment to DREAMS, Joana was invited to become a facilitator. Today, Joana uses her story to inspire other girls to move their lives forward.
“Everything is a matter of choice,” says Joana. “Thanks to the DREAMS program, I am finishing Grade 12, and next year I want to take a nursing course,” says Joana.
Today, Joana can properly take care of her son—and also takes care of the other DREAMS girls as if they were her younger sisters.
“I feel like an empowered and determined woman,” she says. “I am a winner. The recommendation I give other girls is that they should never give up fighting for their dreams. Fight and believe that one day a door will open to a new story.”
“Fight and believe that one day a door will open to a new story.”
Designing Dreams
Today, as Verónica proudly stands next to her sewing machine, she feels like a winner.
This contrasts with the anguish that she experienced as a child under repeated abuse by her stepfather. Verónica’s home-life was miserable because a person who should have been protecting her was the one sexually abusing and battering her.
“I never had the courage to tell my mother [that her husband was abusing me] because I know she loves him very much—and she would never believe me.”
The mistreatment that Verónica suffered had repercussions outside the house.
“I was a very undisciplined child,” says Verónica. “I would say I was going to school but wouldn’t arrive, so I failed [my classes] several times. Fortunately, today, that is in the past.”
From an early age, Verónica was passionate about sewing, but she lacked the resources to fulfill her dream. Then, one afternoon, as she sat in the shade to avoid the scorching sun, a DREAMS mentor, Valodia, arrived who told her about the program.
“When Valodia arrived at our house, she explained to us that the project helps girls in vulnerable situations and that I was going to learn a lot of things at the club. I decided to be a part of it, and my mother supported me, says Verónica.
“When I started attending DREAMS, I learned a lot about gender-based violence, HIV prevention, menstrual hygiene, and contraceptive methods. What I got most were tips on how to save money and start a small business. They gave me 3,000 meticais ($46 USD) to start my business. My mother kicked some money in, and we bought this sewing machine,” says Verónica as she sews a seam on a white medical coat.
Today, Verónica splits her time between the school where she attends Grade 10 and her sewing work. From her porch, she makes skirts, school uniforms, dresses, shirts, and tunics for her clients.
“My dream is to have my own sewing shop, to become a stylist and businesswoman,” says meticais recognized all over the world,” says Verónica. “I am a beautiful, focused, and hardworking woman.”
“I am a beautiful, focused, and hardworking woman.”
Farming for Dreams
Joice is a chicken farmer in the Macupula neighborhood of Maxixe City in Inhambane Province, Mozambique. Anyone who looks at Joice’s today could not imagine the story behind her smiling face.
At the age of 7, Joice was taken by her mother to the Kingdom of Eswatini, where she lived with her grandmother. Unfortunately, due to document mix-up, Joice had difficulties enrolling in school.
“I always led a nomadic life, sometimes I spent time in Swazi (Eswatini), sometimes I came home—which meant that in addition to problems with documents, I was also behind at school. When I was studying 7th grade I gave up and went back to Swazi to go live with my aunt,” says Joice.
At the end of 2017, Joice returned to Mozambique. Although she was 22 years old, she decided to go back to school to attend 7th grade. Since then, she hasn’t stopped her education.
In 2021 Joice was invited by a DREAMS mentor, Valodia, to join the program.
“After I started attending sessions, many things started to change in my life,” says Joice. “After completing the economic strengthening package, I started to have many business ideas,” says Joice. “That’s when I started raising chickens.”
“Through DREAMS, I received a grant of 3,000 meticais ($46 USD) as initial capital to start my business,” says Joice. “I started with 60 chickens, and my business grew. I’m still not at the level I want, but little-by-little I’m gaining financial stability, with the production of chickens and hairdressing services. I help to take care of my five brothers and also manage to save to invest more in the future.”
DREAMS was my first step towards fulfilling my life because I learned to be a businesswoman and save money. In addition, I learned my rights as a woman and how to prevent myself from being infected with HIV.
“After I started attending sessions, many things started to change in my life.”
A Dream Business
Hortência is a 23-year-old woman living with her husband and two daughters, ages 5 and 1 in Gaza Province, Mozambique.
Before joining DREAMS, Hortência was not working. Through DREAMS, she saw an opportunity to learn about businesses and dreams of opening a large shop of her own.
After completing the economic strengthening package, Hortência received 3,000 meticais ($46 USD), which she invested in raw peanuts, which she roasted. In less than a week, she had managed to sell half a sack, and with the profit, she was able to buy more. Seeing that her business was doing well, Hortência decided to go further, she began making lifete, a sweet made from roasted peanuts, sugar, and flour.
Every morning she goes down to the beach where there is a greater concentration of people to sell to. She reported that on a recent morning she made 5,000 meticais ($78 USD).
“Today, with the value of my business, in addition to becoming an independent woman, I can help with household expenses and buy some personal things for myself and my two daughters.”
Felix Felipe and Amade Amade
Mozambique
Adolescent Identification, Care & Treatment; HIV Treatment Optimization
