For more than twenty years, Dambudzo lived with a truth she could not accept.

In 2003, she tested positive for HIV. The diagnosis was confirmed, but treatment never began. Fear, stigma, and misunderstanding stood in the way. Instead of starting Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), she chose silence. As the years passed, her health quietly deteriorated.

During a community activation, Youth Helpline outreach team met Dambudzo and she was visibly ill. Her body was weak, and she was in constant pain. Yet when asked about her condition, she did not speak of HIV. She believed she was being bewitched by family members.

The Counsellors listened carefully. They did not dismiss her fears. They gently encouraged her to take another HIV test. The results once again confirmed what had been known for years. She was HIV positive.

Still, Dambudzo resisted treatment.

For over a decade, she had lived without ART. Starting medication now felt frightening. Questions and doubts filled her mind. What would people say? Would the drugs make her sicker? Could she trust the health system? The Counsellors understood that this was not just a medical issue. It was emotional. It was social. It was deeply personal. Refusing to give up, Dambudzo was referred to Mashambanzou Clinic, one of Youth Helpline's trusted local healthcare centres known for compassionate and youth friendly HIV care. There, clinicians began working with her patiently. Without any pressure, judgment, just honest conversations. They explained how ART works. They addressed her fears, building trust one conversation at a time. Slowly, her belief that she was bewitched began to shift. She started to see that her illness had a medical cause and, more importantly, a medical solution.

Trust replaced fear.

Eventually, Dambudzo made the decision that would change her life. She agreed to begin Antiretroviral Therapy. The improvement was noticeable. The pain that had filled her body began to ease. She slept better. Her strength slowly returned. For the first time in years, she felt hope. In her own words:

"I am happy. I am now feeling better, I will continue taking these pills as I am feeling much better. My health has changed. These pills are working wonders."

Her journey reminds us that access to treatment alone is not enough. People need information. They need reassurance. They need trusted voices in their communities.

Most of all, they need someone who refuses to give up on them.

Through sustained community engagement and compassionate care, Youth Advocates helped turn years of denial into acceptance and recovery. And with continued support, many more lives like Dambudzo's can be transformed.