We Are Not Defined By Our Status: Justina’s Story
When Justina Katambo, from the town of Petauke in Zambia’s Eastern Province, was diagnosed with HIV in 2018, she struggled to accept her HIV-positive status. Her life was instantly flooded with stigma, fear, and doubt.
“It was difficult for me to understand and accept my condition,” Justina recalls. “I started and stopped treatment several times, struggling to come to terms with my new reality.”
Depression is 2-3x more common in people living with HIV. Facing an environment in her community full of pervasive misconceptions about HIV, Justina’s mental health suffered. She battled feelings of shame, insecurity, isolation – and at times, suicidal ideation. “People think that when you are HIV-positive, you’re finished,” she says.
Fortunately, Justina found help from a healthcare provider at Petauke Urban Clinic, who guided her toward accepting her status and adhering to consistent treatment. This support marked the beginning of a turning point for Justina; one that led her to her current role as a SKILLZ Plus Coach with Grassroot Soccer.
Now, Justina is rewriting her story – and empowering youth living with HIV in her community to rewrite theirs as well.
Grassroot Soccer’s SKILLZ Plus is a fun and interactive program that uses soccer and play-based learning to support the specific needs of youth living with HIV. SKILLZ Plus creates a safe space where HIV-positive youth learn critical knowledge and skills necessary to navigate different aspects of living with the virus – including disclosure of their status, healthy relationships, mental health, and adherence to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), which reduces the amount of HIV in the body and prevents the transmission of the virus to others.
Like the participants, SKILLZ Plus Coaches like Justina are themselves living with HIV. This means that every HIV-positive adolescent in the program has a mentor who crucially can relate to their unique challenges and serve as a trusted role model and support system.
“The program has helped me reduce stigma and improve the lives of adolescents living with HIV,” she explains. “It has built strong relationships and improved adherence, not just for me but for my family and community as well.”
The journey for any individual living with HIV is not linear, and Justina has continued to face challenges at times. But Grassroot Soccer has helped her learn how to navigate her own problems when they arise while continuing to support others.
“During interventions, I’ve faced difficult questions about my status,” she admits. “But I’ve learned to handle them with confidence and compassion.”
Her advice to others living with HIV is clear and heartfelt: “Seeking support is vital. You’ll discover things that can help you overcome shame and isolation. Through SKILLZ Plus, we share so much about mental health and life skills, and it’s made a huge difference for me.”
Justina’s openness about her personal journey – the highs and the lows – has been a cornerstone of her impact. By sharing her experiences with her participants and others in her community, she is helping to foster trust and understanding, and encourage others to seek support and embrace their own journeys – both the struggles and the victories.
“SKILLZ Plus has given me a bright vision,” Justina says. “I now know more about HIV, and I’m using that knowledge to make a difference.”
Justina’s vision extends beyond the impact she is creating for the HIV-positive young people with whom she works. She dreams of a society where stigma and discrimination are eradicated – and she believes Grassroot Soccer is key to achieving this.
Today, Justina is a beacon of hope and resilience in her community. Her journey from self-doubt to empowerment is a powerful reminder that challenges can be overcome with the right support and determination.
As she continues her work, Justina’s message is simple yet profound: “We are not defined by our status. We are defined by how we rise above it and inspire others to do the same.”