World AIDS Day is not only a day to remember those who have lost their lives or who are surviving with HIV, it is a day to honor all the courageous people who have dedicated their careers and their lives to fighting HIV. It is a day to celebrate those individuals, groups, and agencies who are always working hard to find new ways to improve the lives of people living with HIV. This is a day to applaud our triumphs and thank all those who have helped us along the way. THANK YOU! - Vicki Lynn, USA The state of the epidemic has changed drastically in South Africa, from AIDS being perceived as a...
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Sonya posted a new blog, " Using HIV Tests as Prevention?" on A Girl Like Me's Voices from our Allies: Why am I getting myself all worked up, because you don’t want to listen or take advice? Sometimes it really feels like I am talking until I turn blue in my face, and we all know that is something that cannot happen literally. However, I am finding that many are simply taking the HIV test as an afterthought, almost like almost like some people use pregnancy tests as a method of contraception. Praying at the time that the test doesn’t come back positive and then going right back out there since...
Tiffany posted a new blog, Good people..., on A Girl Like Me’s “Voices from our Allies” page: When good people do nothing and nothing blocks anything. And nothing blocks everything. My sister friends get infected. My people die. When good people, protect good people who do nothing and nothing blocks anything. And nothing blocks everything. My sister friends get infected. My people die. When good people weigh politics, position, and paychecks over purpose. And blocks anything, everything. My sister friends get infected. My people die. Can you imagine when… ….. good people just start doing good...
Sonya posted a new blog Remember One Thing... on A Girl Like Me’s “Voices from our Allies” page: What’s new, you asked? I know it’s been a minute, but I need you to understand that I’ve been on the grind for HIV/AIDS Awareness hardcore still the same. Simply because so much is going on, but yet so much is still remaining the same. A different name, another relationship, and yet the same old same old “stuff” that so many of us have to deal with. HIV/AIDS is spreading like fungus in our communities. So, a new person came into a small town with their good looks, swag ways, and charming words and...
Editor's Note: In 2012, The Well Project was thrilled to help sponsor Caitlin Margaret Kelly's international photography project (then titled, "I am...Women Living with HIV") to be on display at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC. We saw many parallels between the goals of Caitlin's project and those of A Girl Like Me--to give women living with HIV the platform to tell their story and to decrease stigma by showing that living with HIV is just one layer in the complex lives of women and girls. During this collaboration, Caitlin photographed several A Girl Like Me bloggers, both...
By Anonymous One year ago I left my country and flew a thousand miles all the way to Washington DC to go to the International AIDS conference. It was an unforgettable experience and one that I will cherish for it opened my eyes to new faces of HIV. I returned from the conference a few days later all excited but unfortunately this was not to last long. That very week a friend I had been seeing tested positive for HIV. And yes, I believe I infected him! I know many may be wondering how? Why? With all the information that I had; how come? Many may say I could have avoided it. Maybe yes! And maybe...
Tiffany posted a new blog If someone shows you… on A Girl Like Me’s “Voices from our Allies” page: There is this great quote by Maya Angelou, “If someone shows you who they are. Believe them.” The funny thing is every time I hear the quote being used often the person is remarking how someone has shown a negative side of themselves. I have had the pleasure over the last year getting to see someone and I do believe them. They are brilliant, passionate, and funny. They have been an inspiration to me and a reminder of who I once was, still am, and could be. It is sometimes very easy to habitually...
As you may know, when The Well Project was founded in 2002, it became the first resource of its kind - providing desperately needed information about HIV and women. Much has evolved since 2002 in both technology and the HIV epidemic, but what hasn't changed is our commitment to make our resources as useful as possible for our visitors. We are about to undertake a significant upgrade to our website (including both a technical platform improvement and a redesign of the web portal) and are using it as an opportunity to reach out to you for feedback on what changes and improvements you'd like to...
To honor the amazing leadership, advocacy and work of The Well Project Founder (and first A Girl Like Me blogger), Dawn Averitt, we would like to share this note from her brother and Co-Founder, Richard Averitt. "Today is the celebration of my sister's 25th year since her diagnosis with HIV/AIDS. In that time, she has grown from a young woman who didn't expect to see her 25th birthday to a force of nature who has truly, directly and personally impacted the lives of millions. There are women alive today who made it out of the darkness and survived because of Dawn. There are women who had...
Sonya posted a new blog Infected/Affected, Who Cares? on A Girl Like Me’s “Voices from our Allies” page: Someone once stated “only people who are HIV + can understand HIV”, and I so beg to differ. As a person who is negative and gets tested on a regular basis and has been doing HIV activism since the 1980’s, understanding whether we are infected or affected HIV/AIDS affects us all. So, are you saying to me that there is no way watching my good friend intentionally spread the disease, hate the world, and curse me and God/Die, had no effect on me? Are you saying to me when I didn’t know where my...