When Bless first arrived at Salama Camp, a SeriousFun camp in Tanzania, her world was heavy with confusion and isolation. At just 15, she had already faced what no child should: living with HIV without understanding what it meant, or why she needed medication every day.

She lived with her grandmother, too elderly to join her at camp, and attended a rural clinic where no one had explained her treatment. Without that knowledge, she had stopped taking her medicine. As a result, her health began to deteriorate.

Everything changed the moment she came to camp. At Salama Camp, supported by you, Bless found something she had never experienced before: a loving community that understood. Surrounded by other young people living with HIV, laughing, sharing stories, and thriving, Bless saw for the first time that she wasn’t alone.

That realization was a turning point. Through education sessions and daily routines, Bless learned what her medication did, why it mattered, and how adherence could help her stay strong. Counselors and doctors guided her through every question, not with judgment, but with care and clarity.

She began to take her medicine consistently and the results were — quite literally — life-changing.

After only one year of attending camp and committing to her treatment, Bless’s viral load dropped by 98% — a dramatic, measurable improvement that shows her body is healing. “My plan after this camp is to totally suppress,” she said.

But the impact of camp went beyond health. It reshaped how Bless saw herself: where there had once been shame, there is now pride. Where there had been fear, there is now possibility.

And where there had been isolation, there is now community. “I liked the way we were treated with love and respect,” she said. “If there was another chance to attend camp, I would love to go and have fun with my friends there.”

Because of you, Bless regained not only her health, but also hope, knowledge, and belonging. She learned that her life has value, her future has promise, and her story can inspire others to keep going.

You gave Bless the tools to manage her HIV and the community to help her thrive. Now through December 31, your support will have twice the impact on young people like Bless thanks to a generous match. Help more children build healthy, joyful futures.