Gugulethu Kumalo was born in Zimbabwe in 1989. Known as “Gugu” by her friends and family, she was a bright and thoughtful child. Gugu’s early years were stressful ones, however, as she endured the illnesses and eventual death of both her parents to AIDS. When she was ten years old, Gugu and her brother moved into the home of their aunt and uncle, who eventually took both of the children for HIV tests. The family was stunned when Gugu tested positive for the virus, while her brother did not.
As Gugu recalled, “I was only 12 years old when they told me. I didn’t know if I had any future. I didn’t understand what was happening to me. I lived in fear and anger.” Gugu and her family initially kept her HIV status a secret, afraid that they would otherwise be stigmatized or discriminated against in their community. However, the secret took a toll on Gugu, who remembered feeling “completely alone.” At school she was teased about the sores on her face resulting from an HIV-related infection, and other students refused to sit next to her.
Gugu became involved with the Champions for Life program, which runs camps for HIV-positive children in Zimbabwe. Meeting other children and adults with HIV was a transformative experience. “I realized that I wasn’t alone, and that my life wasn’t over but had just begun. I realized I had to be strong, not only for me but for other children as well.” By the time she reached the age of 16, Gugu had become an advocate for women and children with HIV. She blossomed into a gifted leader and articulate spokesperson. At the age of 20, she was invited to speak at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, on the topic of “Transitioning from Adolescence to Adulthood as a Young Person Living with HIV.”
Back at home in Zimbabwe, Gugu was frustrated by the lack of resources that young women with HIV faced. She wanted to create a space where they could come together on a regular basis to support one another, educate themselves, and plan for their futures. Gugu approached Rufaro Kangai, the Country Director of ICRI’s office in Harare. Rufaro, a Zimbabwean who had previously worked in ICRI’s headquarters in California, moved back to Harare in 2007 to open ICRI’s office there. Rufaro was impressed by Gugu’s commitment and leadership, and realized that there was a critical need for the type of program Gugu had envisioned. Moreover, she realized that partering with Gugu was very much in “the ICRI way”- being invited to collaborate on a project with a local leader deeply connected to the community to be served.
Gugu soon joined the staff of ICRI’s Zimbabwe office, and with Rufaro developed the Support for Women and Girls Project. The project offers an array of intensive services to young women, including support groups, individual counseling, educational workshops, tutoring, and vocational training. Young women were soon flocking to the “safe space” at ICRI’s Harare office, and taking part in popular slumber parties that Rufaro and Gugu hosted to allow the young women “the opportunity to just be with each other and to just be themselves in a fun and supportive environment.” Although the program has a particular focus on young women who are HIV-positive and young women who have endured sexual assault, both Rufaro and Gugu felt it was important to open the program up to any young woman in need of intensive advocacy and support. Between 2008 and 2010, the SWAG project provided intensive services to over 80 young women, as well as trainings on the rights and needs of young women to over 400 community members. The project has been incredibly successful, and due to strong demand has since expanded into other communities where ICRI is working in Zimbabwe.
Gugu died of AIDS-related complications in January 2010. As Rufaro recalls, “Gugu’s death broke my heart. She was a hero. I still can’t believe all that she was able to accomplish in just 21 years. The only way to heal the pain of losing someone like her is to carry out her vision and help other young women to live out their dreams the way she was able to.” The Support for Women and Girls project would not exist without Gugu, and each young woman who receives help is directly benefitting from Gugu’s legacy. As Gugu herself stated, “I realized that I mattered. And I want others to know that they matter, too.”
