Vyona comes from Manyatta village in Kisumu county. Of the total number of people living with HIV in Kenya, 9.5 percent live in Kisumu county, which is also ranked the third highest nationally.
There is a need for the county government of Kisumu to invest in HIV prevention and stigma elimination, integrated with economic empowerment, and with a special focus on adolescents and young people.
Vyona, 24, has one child and together they live with her mother in Manyatta village in Kisumu.
Vyona was trained in refrigeration and electrical works through a DREAMS project in Kisumu.
She now works at Kisumu Refrigeration & Electrical Works as an electrician for electrical appliances.
“My life had come to a standstill. I could not further my education and had gotten a child who I could not take care of. Being the first born, I felt a deep sense of shame and helplessness. DREAMS gave me a new lease of life – I have my confidence back, I’m independent, and can pay my siblings fees and house rent. I can now live AIDS-free.”
Vyona
Girls with DREAMS
This profile is taken from the PEPFAR Kenya “Our Lens Sauti Zetu (Our Voices)” photo book — a compilation of images captured by DREAMS girls highlighting their own stories.
The following DREAMS girls were the eyes behind the lens and beautifully captured the stories of the young women featured in the project: Dorcas Akinyi Onyango, Agnes Wanjiru Mugure, Flovian Atieno, Faith Akumu, Francisca Ndinda, Effie Awino, Fatuma Lando, Dorothy Oyuga, Linet Odira, Hellen Atieno.
Text and images from “Our Lens Sauti Zetu (Our Voices)” are used with permission from PEPFAR Kenya. Learn more about Girls with DREAMS.