Where the journey began.
The Beginning.
Zimbabwe is where Beyond Stigma's work first began.
Working alongside people living with HIV, community organisations, researchers and peer leaders, we developed our first programmes to address one of the least recognised barriers to health and wellbeing, internal stigma.
Today, Zimbabwe remains at the heart of our work, where research, lived experience and community leadership continue to shape innovative approaches that are transforming lives. We are proud to work together with Zvandiri, an incredible organisation that works to support adolescents and young people living with HIV across sub-Saharan Africa to thrive.
The Challenge
Looking beyond HIV.
For many people living with HIV, the greatest challenge isn't only stigma from others.
It's the negative beliefs they carry about themselves.
Internal stigma can lead to shame, isolation, reduced self-worth, poor mental health, difficulties with disclosure, relationship challenges and lower engagement with healthcare.
Recognising this hidden barrier transformed the direction of Beyond Stigma's work and became the foundation for everything that followed.
How it all started.
We Are The Change
2013–2015
Beyond Stigma's first programme in Zimbabwe, We Are The Change, was developed in partnership with people living with HIV to better understand the thoughts and beliefs driving self-stigma. This was together with the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+).
Through formative research, four key areas emerged:
Disclosure
Sexuality and relationships
Self-perception
Body, illness and death
These insights informed the creation of a 12-week community-based programme using Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction (IBSR) to help participants question self-judgements, rebuild self-worth and develop practical tools for everyday life.
The programme also trained participants to become facilitators, ensuring the work could continue within their own communities.
Building on the Evidence
Addressing self-stigma among young people.
In 2020, Beyond Stigma worked alongside Zvandiri and the young people living with HIV they support in Zimbabwe to better understand their experiences of internal stigma.
The research revealed that self-stigma affected many areas of life, including:
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Mental wellbeing
Confidence and self-worth
Relationships
School and employment
Healthcare engagement
HIV disclosure
These findings directly informed the development of Wakakosha—meaning "I Am Worth It."
Wakakosha
Building self-worth among young people living with HIV.
Wakakosha is an innovative, community-led programme developed by Beyond Stigma in partnership with Zvandiri, CeSHHAR Zimbabwe and local peer leaders.
Designed for adolescents and young adults living with HIV, the programme combines:
Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction (IBSR)
Creativity and storytelling
Music and art
Mindfulness and meditation
Peer support
Group learning
Together, these approaches help young people challenge self-stigma, strengthen self-worth and develop practical skills that continue long after the programme ends.
How the Programme Works
Listening to young people's experiences to understand the beliefs driving internal stigma.
A structured 16-session journey combining self-inquiry, creativity and peer learning.
Training Zvandiri CATS (Community Adherence Treatment Supporters) young people to become Coaches, mentors and community leaders who can support others in clinics and community spaces.
Developing toolkits, training materials and practical resources that enable communities to continue delivering the programme locally.
Creativity in Action
Finding new ways to tell powerful stories.
Creativity plays an important role throughout Beyond Stigma's work in Zimbabwe.
Young people have written poetry, created artwork, explored storytelling and even co-written original music as part of their journey towards greater self-worth.
The Wakakosha Song, created by programme participants, celebrates hope, resilience and the belief that everyone is worthy.
Research & Impact
Evidence that continues to shape global learning.
Zimbabwe has become the foundation for much of Beyond Stigma's research into internal stigma.
Programme evaluations have demonstrated positive changes in:
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Self-worth
Self-confidence
Sense of purpose
Body positivity
Communication
Family relationships
Forgiveness
Emotional wellbeing
Participants also reported continuing to use the skills learned through self-inquiry, mindfulness and creativity in their everyday lives. These findings continue to inform Beyond Stigma's programmes internationally.
LOOKING AHEAD
Continuing to grow together.
Zimbabwe remains central to Beyond Stigma's long-term vision.
Working alongside Zvandiri and communities, we continue to strengthen peer leadership, expand access to evidence-informed programmes, deepen research and share learning that can benefit communities around the world.
As Beyond Stigma grows internationally, Zimbabwe continues to lead the way in terms of innovation—showing what becomes possible when communities, lived experience and research come together to transform internal stigma into self-worth.
2026 innovations include the testing of a pilot ‘Wakakosha for Healthcare Workers’ and a ‘Wakakosha for Caregivers’. In addition, ‘Wakabot’, a prototype of a digital version of Wakakosha, has been developed together with support from the Zvandiri CATS.
We are grateful to Positive Action, Viiv Healthcare for their ongoing support to the Wakakosha Programme
Help Create Lasting Change
Together, we can help more people move from self-stigma to self-worth.
Choose how you'd like to support our work.