When I joined ROM Family, I knew I was not alone: A story of a former OVC, now full-time staff at ROM.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am pleased to share with you about my life-A life built by Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative (ROM). I happily and generously express my deepest gratitude to the services rendered to me by ROM family, for with them I have yielded good fruits of life through the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Program.\u00a0<\/em>In 2007, I was in Primary Six at St. Kizito Primary School Bugolobi when tragedy befell my family; death robbed us of my father- the most precious gift our family had ever had. I was terribly heart-broken as his passing did not come easily. My mom struggled to bring me back to life but deep inside her she knew how empty I felt and that it required a lot for me to get back to normal. I am I now fully recovered? Of course, no, but feeling far better than before. Amen to that! <\/em><\/p>\n Mid-June 2009, life drastically changed; my mother could no longer afford to cater for the family and finding school fees was next to impossible. To my surprise, I saw my mother swallow tablets on a daily basis, but I never knew why. <\/em><\/p>\n One day, she made the most important decision in my life-disclosing to me that she was HIV positive. It was heartbreaking moment as life was never the same again!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Nevertheless, a few days later, she brought me to ROM where I was tested for HIV and the result was positive. It was my first time to experience professional counselling; the counselor took time to convince me that life could still be normal as long as I was willing to adjust to open a new chapter in my life.\u00a0<\/em>With that piece of advice, I laboured to adhere to treatment and also joined ROM Family as a client. This made me appreciate that I wasn\u2019t the only fish in the pond- there were many other younger and older people living a positive life. With time, I learned a lot from them.\u00a0<\/em>Of course, starting a new of life of taking medicine on a daily basis was not easy, but I later realized that for everything to work out, all I needed was a positive attitude.<\/em><\/p>\n Therefore, I made up my mind and joined ROM programs for Young People Living with HIV. I picked interest in the Friend\u2019s Forum-a monthly weekend program through which young people engage in friendly activities such as games, counselling sessions and much more for peer support. During our meetings, I learnt so much from my peers, mastered the dos and don\u2019ts of the Anti Retroviral Therapy such as adherence and these helped me appreciate life.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0It was very exciting representing my peers at radio talk shows, camps and sport galas and retreats because I was able to share with the world what was important to know about the lives of young people living with HIV.<\/em><\/p>\n In 2010, I was in Senior two but paying school fees was a challenge. This is when ROM came to my rescue and enrolled me for school fees support under the Orphans and Vulnerable Children\u2019s Program. Since then, I have never looked back.<\/em><\/p>\n I am so grateful that with the psychological, emotional and financial support I received from ROM, I was able to complete secondary school and acquired both Ordinary and Advanced Certificates of Education and a Diploma in Counselling.<\/em><\/p>\n ROM also offered me space to do my internship, volunteered in the registry section and offered me short time contracts in the M&E department where I have gained numerous skills.<\/em><\/p>\n Currently, I am the Front Desk Assistant at ROM, supporting work in the Communication Section and Executive Director\u2019s Office. <\/em><\/p>\n I am so glad I got this sponsorship, for without it, life would be hell. Thank you ROM and big up to everyone who has challenged me to be a better person.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n