Oryem Christine

Christines life has been deeply affected by the AIDS epidemic. She was married to a man who had three wives and many girl friends. He denied he had AIDS up until his death. That same year her three-year-old daughter also died, and Christine started to have fevers every day. She suspected she had HIV/AIDS but dared not get tested for fear of the stigma. She fled from her husbands relatives who were abusive and controlling, and made her way to Kampala with her four remaining children.

We used to only eat beans one time a day. No school for the children. They were at home without hope, she says. During this time, Christine also confirmed that, indeed, she did have HIV. She went to a public health clinic and began to receive treatment. Christine has now joined BeadforLife and is planning on opening a dry goods shop. She has taken in three orphans, the children of her brother who has died from AIDS. All seven of her children are now in school. With hard work and careful planning, Christine expects to never be poor again.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• paper
• bead
• Uganda
• women
• empowerment
• poverty
• eradication
• nonprofit
• HIV
• AIDS
• fair
• trade