What is your calling?

Last week, our friends at Uganda Network of Young People Living with HIV invited me to speak about my journey at the 2021 Yplus Summit in Kampala, Uganda. 

The summit attended by over 300 young people living with HIV, is an annual three days assembly of peer educators, government, partners like Reach A Hand Uganda and more, where issues like best practices on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, collaboration and more, are discussed. 

I was tasked to speak about my journey and inspire young people, a thing I like doing most. On my journey to inspire young people, I have told my story countless times. Many find it sad but in many sad stories, there is a silver lining. In mine, my lining was  my calling. 

Although my life story starts on a sad note, I have always believed in myself- a thing that has greatly inspired my mindset on a lot of things. My story begins in the small village of Katereza, as a child living with HIV positive parents in a house marked and labeled by the village. 

During the late 80’s and 90’s when HIV was at its peak in Uganda, stigma was high because people lacked information about the epidemic. Many associated it with witchcraft. Anyone who had it or was associated with anyone who had it, was stigmatized. In Katereza, my home village, stigma came in the form of marking  houses of people with HIV, and my house was one of those. 

Although this would have broken my spirit as a young boy growing,  I didn’t let it. I started educating myself about the disease. Yes, I was affected due to being raised by persons living with HIV but I never let myself be defined by it or by the situation I was in at that time. I used to remind my big sister, who I later came to call mother, to take her medication because that was the only way for her to survive and stay alive for her children and family. It has now been 32 years and yes, she is healthy and productive. 

In senior one, I dedicated my life to uplifting the lives of young people through various avenues. As time went by, I started visiting different schools doing peer to peer education and recruiting more positive change agents. What started as a passion became my calling. 

Reach A Hand Uganda was born out of the burning spirit I had to transform and empower young people’s lives to live a better life. Today, we have trained and mentored 1775 peer educators. This number grows by the year through our Peer Educators Academy. 

One thing I have learnt over the years is that, when you share your story, many people can and will benefit from it. So you need to stop stigmatizing and discriminating yourself. Your story could be someone’s breakthrough. Your status shouldn't limit you from sharing your story, but rather let it be a channel through which lives are transformed. If you are positive, embrace the journey and change your mindset. You are bigger than your status. Wake up from your comfort zone and aim to change people’s lives. 

In Katereza today, they no longer mark people’s houses. They realized that the very people they had condemned are the ones who have brought change to the village. I have made it my life’s purpose to educate them about HIV and open for them opportunities. 

Currently, over 60% of Uganda’s population is youthful. This statistic only works against us if we sit back and drown in our disabilities, inabilities or what we did not have while growing up. Come up with ideas that will create employment opportunities and benefit your family and the people around you. That’s the way we shall develop the Uganda we want. 

For young people seeking opportunities, note that they are never bought. You need to either create them or find them and while at it, never expect a yes. However, do not let the no break you. Keep pushing and eventually, the no will turn into a yes and a door will open for you. 

Today, I look back and thank the 15-year-old me who saw beyond the stigma. More than 6 million young people have directly been changed by my story through Reach A Hand Uganda and that is the least of what I intend to achieve in my lifetime. This is my calling, what is yours? Have you sat down to think that people will benefit from your calling and purpose?