Overview

The Beyond Stigma Peer Support Guide ‘A Journey to Self Acceptance’ is a practical, community-based resource designed to address internal stigma among people living with HIV and key populations. Grounded in lived experience and co-creation it supports participants to explore identity, self-worth, relationships, and hope in a safe, structured way. Using creative and reflective approaches taken from the Wakakosha intervention, the guide helps individuals build confidence, strengthen peer connections, and develop positive coping strategies. It is intended for trained peer facilitators, community health workers, youth-centred and women-centred organisations.

The guide is for peer groups and is designed to complement existing HIV, mental health, and positive health interventions. It is accompanied by a short Training of Training Video Guide for Facilitators and simple community evaluation tools. It was initially tested in three countries—Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Ghana—with 74 young men and women living with HIV. Following the pilot, skills-building components were delivered in 2025 through briefings and Training of Trainers for 178 outreach workers and peer supporters to support scale-up in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Vietnam in 2026. Working in teams of two, those trained, expect to reach over 1,000 participants during each phase of implementation (each roll out phase can be delivered as a two day workshop, weekly or, fortnightly).

Impact on  Participants
Evidence from programme implementation across multiple settings shows that participants experience meaningful reductions in internal stigma and improvements in self-esteem, self-acceptance, and hope for the future. Participants report feeling less isolated and more understood through the peer-group model, which creates a safe space for sharing experiences that are often silenced. Participation has been associated with improved treatment confidence, increased disclosure self-efficacy, and stronger social support networks. Creative activities within the guide help participants process difficult emotions and reframe negative self-beliefs, contributing to improved mental wellbeing. Qualitative feedback highlights shifts—from shame and self-blame to pride and possibility—demonstrating deeper internal change. In several settings, participants have gone on to take up peer leadership roles, indicating sustained empowerment beyond the intervention period.

Impact on Facilitators and Peer Leaders
Peer facilitators delivering the guide also report significant personal and professional growth. Through training and structured facilitation, they strengthen skills in communication, group management, safeguarding, and reflective practice. Many describe increased confidence in leading discussions on sensitive topics such as stigma, identity, and mental health. Delivering the programme often reinforces their own resilience and reduces internal stigma, as facilitators witness transformation among participants. The experience also enhances their credibility within their communities and can open pathways to further leadership or employment opportunities.

Additional Benefits

The guide is community-led and low-tech, ensuring it is practical and scalable in resource-constrained settings. It has been adapted for key populations and is designed to be flexible, allowing contextualisation to reflect diverse lived experiences. Its participatory approach makes it particularly suitable for women and girls facing intersecting forms of stigma, ensuring relevance, ownership, and sustainability.