Zimbabwe postcard

When my husband died a few years ago, I had nothing. I have five children to raise, and also I am HIV positive. So life was hard. Then Progressio partner organisation Batsirai helped me and some friends set up this small grocery shop and taught us how to run it. Now the shop keeps me very busy. I no longer have to sit at home thinking about HIV and being ill. It has changed my life. Now I am involved in a local self-help group called Yeukai: it means 'remember' in Shona. I remember how hard it was when I first knew I was HIV+, but I am not scared to tell people any more: I want everyone to know I'm HIV+.

Violet Tapfuma, shop-keeper

Zimbabwe