In rural KwaZulu-Natal, women are fighting the perceived shame of HIV with art. “One of the most harmful symptoms of HIV is the stigma that surrounds it,” Paula Thomson says. She works directly with people affected by the illness. Together with Woza Moya, a community-led social enterprise, she’s empowering individuals to stitch together fulfilling lives for themselves. “We are crafting our way to a healthier future,” Paula says.
In the early 2000s, before ARVs became widely available, the Ufafa Valley community struggled in the face of widespread HIV/AIDS. Many refused or were reluctant to approach help centres due to the shame associated with the illness. That is until members from Woza Moya stepped in to provide door-to-door counselling and pain relief services, while also educating people about HIV. It wasn’t only sickness that rampaged the area, but poverty too. This directly impacted people’s health as they couldn’t afford their medication or the necessary nutrition. Today, Thomson is supporting crafters and their families to become financially independent. They produce traditional beaded, hand-embroidered, and crocheted items that are sold both locally and internationally.
Artisans curate their own style and creative language, making their unique patterns their own intellectual property. By selling their artwork, crafters have the agency to access healthcare and meet their basic needs. “People are truly taking the power back into their own hands,” Thomson says. “The greatest impact I have already seen has been women being able to stand up for themselves to build their own homes, to support their children, to put food on the table.” Woza Moya has also opened up a shop at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust in Durban where artists can gain recognition for their work. “The kind of art we encourage people to make is really from their soul,” Thomson says. “We’re able to heal the community so it can succeed and heal itself.”
