Positive Heroes

The organisation's approach is based on the idea that people living with HIV are uniquely situated to understand one another's circumstances and that they are often best placed to support one another. Therefore, the GIPA principle (Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS) forms the backbone of the Positive Heroes' interventions.

The organisation promotes, publicises, and raises the profile of HIV positive people to reach a broad variety of communities in both urban and rural settings. Through this project, South Africans are able to engage with role models from a wide range of racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds who are managing HIV and living full lives. These carefully selected role models are involved in a variety of activities at various levels, including appearing in national media campaigns, bearing personal testimony, participating in seminars, education, and awareness campaigns in schools, and supporting and counselling others with HIV.

For example, in October 2008 the organisation launched a partnership with Move! Magazine to highlight the story of a positive hero every six weeks. Readers who write in to get further support are linked with appropriate sources for treatment and support. Positive Heroes also launched an ultra-marathon team in 2009, which successfully ran two South African marathons.

The organisation also produces billboards depicting eight different heroes from different communities with messages of hope. These billboards aim to increase the personal relevance of HIV. The project also hopea to boost the public's willingness and ability to discuss HIV in relation to positive statements around knowing your status, disclosure, positive self image, and choosing to live positively.

HIV/AIDS

According to Positive Heroes, the underlying tragedy of HIV in South Africa is a debilitating blanket of silence, denial, stigma, and discrimination. While there is almost universal awareness of HIV, it remains highly stigmatised. Stigma and discrimination constitute one of the greatest barriers to dealing effectively with HIV, because they deter individuals from finding out about their status; they inhibit those who know they have HIV from disclosing, taking action to protect others, and seeking treatment and care; and they discourage communities and individuals from acknowledging or taking timely action against HIV.