The photographs, some seen here, provide a mother’s view of the impact of Aids on their community.
Many of the women chose to fight the stigma by coming out about their status and educating other pregnant women in the hope of preventing mother-to-child transmission.
The project is called The House is Small But the Welcome is Big.
Phumza, who took this picture, lives with her husband and two-year-old daughter, who is not HIV-positive.
Her husband has never been tested.
Phumza wanted to be part of the project and take pictures so her child would have something to keep after she dies.
Her eight-year-old daughter lives there with her mother because her mother was concerned that Danielle would die and leave the child alone.
Danielle is the sole breadwinner for her family, although they do not talk to her and her friends in the area do not know her HIV status
Some received money after their photographs were sold at an art exhibition in the US, and Funeka, who took this picture, was one of two women sponsored to attend photography school by one of the project’s co-creators.
Funeka likes taking pictures to show that HIV-positive people can be "fresh and healthy".
Phumza always makes sure that her daughter sees her taking all her medications – she wants her child to know about the virus so she won’t contract it. She also tries to teach her not to discriminate and so makes sure that her daughter plays with all the children in their neighbourhood fairly
Nwabisa lives in a government house with her husband, who is also HIV-positive. They have two children, who do not have the virus.
She wanted to be part of the project because she believes that people still have a problem with HIV and that it is still taboo.
She said: “If you tell people that you are positive, they stop seeing you and just see the disease
The project participants hope their photography will influence public policy on the Aids pandemic.
One of the women who took part, Nozandulela Samela explained: "I want to be alive when the cure comes. Whatsoever there is that tries to stop me, I will jump over it. Nothing can stop me."
wow..these photos ansd stories are most pogniant and touching..thank you so much for posting these Agnes and bringing the reality of not only HIV in 3rd world countries, but the issues of POVERTY as well..these women are STRONG, BRAVE and DETERMINED..much respect love and admiration for these beautiful women...alhamdulilah...
love A'isha
