AHF Ukraine’s Alyona has transformed her journey with HIV into a powerful platform for hope and advocacy. As featured in Divoche Media, she shares her courageous decision to embrace her HIV status openly, challenging stigma and inspiring others in her community.

Born in a small town in the Luhansk region, Alyona grew up in a family of educators and artists. After earning a degree in Public Relations Management, her life took a dark turn when she became trapped in an abusive relationship. Following a harrowing year of violence, she escaped, seeking purpose and a way to rebuild her life. A chance radio report about volunteers supporting HIV patients resonated deeply, inspiring her to explore volunteering at an HIV center.

Initially, Alyona held misconceptions about HIV, associating it with despair and moral failure. However, her experiences at the center revealed a different reality: people living with HIV looked just like everyone else. She decided to stay on as a volunteer, later becoming a senior social worker and HIV counselor.

In 2006, Alyona was diagnosed with HIV after recognizing symptoms described in a book she had been reading. Her response was one of openness—she disclosed her status to friends and colleagues, receiving their unconditional support. Instead of feeling devastated, she focused on living a full life with the help of accessible treatment.

Alyona’s personal life flourished when she met her future husband. Despite her HIV status, he embraced her fully. Together, they built a family, and in 2009, Alyona gave birth to a healthy son. Her experience counseling newly diagnosed HIV-positive mothers at the hospital further ignited her passion for fighting stigma and discrimination.

Now serving as Community Communications Coordinator for AHF Ukraine, Alyona has pioneered initiatives like the START Club, which creates safe spaces for people living with HIV to connect and support each other. This innovative model has since been adopted across Europe.

When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, Alyona’s work became a lifeline for displaced individuals living with HIV, ensuring they had access to medications and healthcare globally.

Alyona’s story is one of resilience and purpose. She continues to advocate for education, testing, and treatment, believing an end to the HIV epidemic is possible through collective action. Her journey inspires countless others to embrace life with courage and hope.