Mary has been living with HIV for more than 8 years. When she first learned her status, she says, “The report was disheartening. I thought of my children and it was like the world was coming to an end. It was difficult for me; I didn’t know what to do.” She reflects that at the time, “you could not disclose your status to anyone because of fear and stigma.”
“I took a bold step and joined a support group, where I met with a status like mine. They received me with a lot of love and they showed me care.”
Still, Mary didn’t want to just sit around and wait for her husband to provide for her and the family. She remained hopeful that God was in control and that He had good plans for her. With that in mind, she focused on coping with the situation and improving her life, and took the bold step of joining a support group.
In the group, Mary says, “we were trained on nutrition, treatment literacy, business skills, and recordkeeping, among other sessions that really empowered me.”
It was in the support group that Mary came up with the idea of selling vegetables. She started off with a stock of KSh 1,000 (a little less than 10 USD), which she’d borrowed from the group. She cleared the first loan and borrowed more money to increase the stock. As her business continued to grow, she not only cleared the loan she had taken, but even increased her contributions to the group.
Since then Mary has been selling vegetables in the market and generates about KSh 10,000 (about 92 USD) per month, allowing her to provide for her family. “This business has really helped us; I’m able to pay for my bills and pay fees for my children. I’m so grateful to God for His faithfulness
“Being HIV positive is not the end of life. You can still be productive in the society.”
Through the support group, Mary was also trained on handicraft work, and she now makes products from the beads and sells them locally during her free time to supplement her income. She makes a variety of products including bracelets, necklaces, and watch bands and straps. “I was trained in bead making and I like making ornaments. I also train other women from the group. The only challenge we are facing is a lack of market for our products... The returns are quite low but we are moving on,” says Mary
Thanks to hard work, determination and her support, both Mary and her businesses are flourishing.