Livia's Story

I am the only person in my family with HIV and I didn’t find out for quite a few years that I had it; my parents told me I had sickle cell.

I think they might have been trying to protect me, because there are still so many negative views and feelings about HIV in society. Like when you’re at school and you hear things being said about HIV in the playground, things that aren’t true, it can be really hurtful.

You want to correct people but you can’t because then they will wonder why you know so much about HIV. So you just have to be quiet - it shouldn’t be like that.

I’ve been coming to Teen Spirit at Body & Soul since I was quite young and it’s really helped me. They teach you things about HIV and taking care of your health. While at school it sometimes feels like you are on the outside, it’s great coming here because you don’t have to hide anything. Meeting other young people is really good, you feel like you’re not alone.

These days I’m doing well; I have had some quite serious illnesses and sometimes have had to miss studies, but I’m striving hard to reach my goals and want to work in public health. I also volunteer at my hospital and at Body & Soul. It’s important to me to speak out and raise the profile of HIV so more people know how it really is.

I like the Life in my Shoes campaign because it will show young people what it’s like to be young and HIV Positive, and hopefully bring things into discussion that people don’t talk about much. If people think more about why they are afraid and realise they don’t need to be, then they might change their minds.

Teen Spirit is a service for young people who are aware of the role HIV plays in their lives, whether they are personally HIV+ or affected through a family member’s status. For more information contact Body & Soul.