I sat down with Phiona from Tukundane, which is an organisation in Uganda that helps improve the lives of single mothers with HIV. They help tackle the issues these womxn face daily, as well as help educate communities on HIV and AIDS.

What does the International Womxn’s Day slogan, #choosetochallenge mean to you in your work life? 

To us, it means taking a stand, voicing our beliefs without fear and hesitation. Standing up against discrimination, social inequality, injustice etc. That our work as women is important and being recognised. That we as women are no longer defined by our sex, we now have presidents, doctors, pilots, teachers who are women - just to mention a few, and as women in general, we are choosing to challenge stereotypes and not letting societal norms define us. We are writing our own stories and telling them the way we would want them to read. 

Tell me a little about Tukundane and what you do? 

Tukundane Charity Organization was created to be a safe space for HIV/AIDS single mothers and young girls to help them tackle everyday obstacles by providing advocacy, social and economic empowerment interventions to help transform their lives in Uganda.

Tukundane has been in operation for a year and our aim is to empower women economically and socially.

What does Tukundane mean?

It means let us love one another.

Why did you choose to start Tukundane?

Professionally I am a social worker, so I did most of my internships in hospitals and organisations that were helping HIV patients which exposed me to the problems that women go through simply for being HIV positive. Having been raised by a single parent I could also relate to what a lot of the women were going through and I knew the kind of problems they would face, having seen it through my childhood. I have also lost family members to this virus so it’s a way of giving back to the community and trying to make a difference no matter how small.

How can we encourage more womxn to get tested?

A lot of young people do not take the disease as seriously as they should, and are not aware that becoming positive will affect them for the rest of their lives. Getting young people more involved would help curve the spread of HIV/AIDS - especially in Africa as they are so carefree with their lives and health. 

We can encourage more women to test first by sensitising the community and societies they reside in. Due to stigma and discrimination, most people are afraid to get tested and those who do, don’t disclose their results which only makes the virus spread more. 

We recently held an event called Know Your Status where we partnered with local community leaders to encourage more people to get tested. The event was a success, seeing their peers and leaders get tested made people more comfortable.

Do you think there’s a stereotype attached to womxn who are HIV+?

Most definitely. Society assumes that these women were sleeping around which is why they got HIV/AIDS, so they are easily subjected to violence. People also still believe HIV positive women can’t give birth which is not true - women who are positive can give birth to healthy babies with the help of trained midwives and doctors. 

HIV doesn’t discriminate whether you're male, female, white, black, or brown. 

Education plays a big part in your programme – what steps can we take to better educate our people about HIV and AIDS? 

We start by creating safe environment, this way people feel safe to walk in and not feel judged, in most cases people refuse to know anything about HIV because of the stigma and discrimination HIV+ people get subjected to.

We hold counselling sessions and general informative meetings where we try to get in experts to educate the communities and eradicate the stereotypes they associate with HIV/AIDS.  

It’s important to remember that when society is educated there is less chance of the virus spreading. Governments should introduce a syllabus dedicated to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in schools. Adult education in different communities can also help bring more awareness to people. 

What are the most effective ways to counteract the negative stereotypes of feminism? 

Enacting of laws that change mind sets, like those against domestic violence and gender-based violence including sexual harassment in workplaces and rape. These laws should criminalise such activities. 

Promotion of shared domestic responsibility between men and women - parents should teach both their kids that no one is superior in the house, society in general should revise the term masculinity.

Governments need to allocate adequate resources towards elimination of gender stereotypes, advocacy and awareness raising campaigns on women issues should be priority.

Uganda is built on a patriarchy system (like most countries) - what would you change about the assumptions made by men of womxn?

I think women are slowly changing the narrative, not only in Uganda, but in different countries and continents. We are no longer silent. We are telling our own stories and how we want them to be read. We have proven our sex has nothing do with our capabilities. I would encourage children to strive to achieve their dreams and goals without letting their sex hold them back. 

What can men do to help to achieve equality?

Men need to acknowledge the privileges they are born with. Due to patriarchy, they get away with a lot, so men need to start by showing solidarity they need to stand with women and girls in their daily struggles. If a woman reports an incident of rape she shouldn’t be doubted.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing womxn of your age today?

Gender bias, unequal pay and gender-based violence. It’s important to note that being a woman automatically qualifies me to get less pay than my male counterpart, that’s minus addressing the violence we face which can be verbal or physical. Women are automatically seen as being weaker than men based on their gender and therefore unable to achieve the same. 

What is your biggest accomplishment (or biggest mistake)?

Tukundane would be the biggest accomplishment, being able to make change in these women’s lives is a blessing. We may not be where we want to be yet, but we are taking it day by day and we will continue to impact the lives of HIV+ single mothers and women in general.

What womxn in your life inspires you the most and why? 

My mother and grandmother inspire me, bless them they are no longer alive. My mother had me at a young age - I did not get to know her, but I am forever grateful for her giving me life and allowing my grandmother to raise me the best way she knew how. I am the woman I am today because of them.

How important is it for womxn to lift each other up and what does that mean to you?

It’s very important. We already live in a world where we are judged, underestimated and seen to be inferior to our male counterparts. Encouraging each other and supporting one another in a world where support doesn’t come easy and the odds are stacked up against you - having each other’s back can be extremely vital.  

Believe it or not, part of our survival instinct is to help each other. 

When one woman speaks up and the rest follow, the world tends to listen - sisterhood is very important, to me it means everything. As women we need to believe in each other to support each other in any way we can instead of bashing each other - so many people already do that for us.

On International Womxn’s Day, what is the most important message you want to send out to young womxn? 

My message to young women is to tell them that the world is theirs - societal norms should not determine what they can and can’t do.

You can follow Tukundane here.