UNP+
Working with HIV+ people in India
- photo story by
- Louise Ashley
Mandakini
Mandakini, got involved with UNP+ after a turbulent journey with her, now deceased, husband
- photo by
- Benedict Spence
United
Georgia, founder of The Staying Alive Foundation and Mandakini meet for the first time
- photo by
- Benedict Spence
Getting Creative
The Positive People Photo Project - a creative initiative organised by UNP+
- photo by
- UNP+
Exhibition
Locals check out the Positive People Photo Project
- photo by
- UNP+
Special Arrival
Friends of UNP+ eagerly await a visit form Staying Alive Ambassador Travis McCoy
- photo by
- Benedict Spence
Wise Words
Ambassador Travis McCoy gets some sound advice from a member of UNP+
- photo by
- Benedict Spence
Award Winning
Ambassador Travis McCoy presents Mandakini with her Staying Alive Foundation award
- photo by
- Benedict Spence
Changemaker
Through her work with UNP+, Mandakini is helping to break down stigma associated with HIV
- photo by
- Benedict Spence
UNP+ India
UNP+ (Uktal Network of People Living with HIV) is based in the Indian Sate of Orissa and aims to fight the discrimination and stigma faced by those living with HIV. UNP+ has been funded by The Staying Alive Foundation since 2008.
Giving a Human Face to HIV
Mandakini’s story began when, at the age of 18, she entered a customary arranged marriage. When her new husband died as a result of AIDS, Mandakini was thrown out of the house and ostracised by his family when they realised that she too was HIV+. With no one to turn to, and isolated by her village (“even the vegetables I planted were called ‘AIDS-plants’, and I wasn’t allowed to drink from the same tap as the rest of the community”), Mandakini considered suicide.
Fortunately for Mandakini, a friend took her to UNP+, an organisation which made her see that her life was valued, and valuable.
Today, Mandakini runs UNP+ through a grant from The Staying Alive Foundation. Her goal is to raise the voices of those living with and affected by HIV, because Mandakini knows that by being so public about her status, and living life “normally”, she is making a huge difference in educating people who were once so keen to discriminate against her.
Unusually, Mandakini’s story has a happy ending – today, she is happily re-married to a man that she met through UNP+, and they have a beautiful and healthy eight month baby girl.
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Comments
by shreya on Dec 01 2009, 12:10 GMT
hey u guys,i just saw the show in vh1,and also in mtv.its so inspiring.as a medical student,we have been already aware abt this disease and the virus but we still have so much doubt,it made me think how much little the lay man know when we the med students have so much to know.whoa .so as soon as possible we may start a campaign abt AIDS.can i plz know how can i individually help????thank u so much for ur work and thumbs up.keep up the great work : )
by adeola on Dec 10 2009, 18:22 GMT
keep on d work mtv.
by Jonathan(= on Dec 06 2009, 13:05 GMT
For people who have HIV, don't give up on life! Continue to live on!
by Niranjan Sapkota on Feb 16 2010, 11:30 GMT
Mandakini is one of the example of stigmatised PLHA. In Nepal there are a lot of Mandakinies. All of us should do more for them.
by Ann Thomas on Feb 19 2010, 07:51 GMT
I just want to say All + should see the experience of Ms.Mandakini apply it in your life Social worker
by Azad Shaikh on May 08 2010, 13:41 GMT
by Looking Mandakani even i feel to bee like her, and i wish to be a social worker in my state, being a HIV Positive .
by azad on May 08 2010, 13:44 GMT
good work