As a collection, these digital stories recount hardships and celebrate achievements related to every-day struggles with memory, identity, and the search for safety, acceptance, and dignity. HIV stigma and disclosure are explored in depth, as are men’s changing roles in their communities, and the impact of HIV on children who become orphans. Storytellers talk about suffering through and surviving difficulties, making the decision to test and learn one’s status, learning to live healthy lives with HIV, transforming HIV education, ending gender-based violence, and promoting equality for women and children.

Sonke’s purpose in sharing these stories is to make real people's voices and images the centrepiece of local campaigns to promote new visions of masculinity and gender equality in Southern Africa. We hope they will be shared in a variety of settings, as tools for encouraging reflection and opening hearts and minds about how gender norms and broad life experiences inform health status, relationships, and the spread of HIV. And we hope that viewers come away with a deeper awareness of the challenges of HIV and AIDS and violence, as well as a picture of what committed men and women in the region are doing to inspire individuals, communities, organisations, and policymakers towards action.

These stories are emotionally powerful. If you are considering screening them as part of your work to support gender justice/HIV and AIDS prevention/human rights promotion, we strongly recommend that you download and make use of the relevant accompanying guide(s):

Responding to Violence and HIV/AIDS: Digital Stories from Southern Africa
This guide presents English-language stories by women and men from urban areas in South Africa, as well as stories by women and men from Botswana, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.

• See the complete list of stories in this guide.
• Download the discussion guide.

Inspiring Action: Digital Stories of HIV, Gender, and Hope from Rural South Africa
This guide presents English, Xhosa, and Venda stories by youth and adults (men and women) from rural KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo.

• See the complete list of stories in this guide.
• Download the discussion guide.

"We All Have Rights": Stories of Gender and Health by South African Youth
This guide presents English and Xhosa stories by young people from rural Kwa-Zulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

• See the complete list of stories in this guide.
• Download the discussion guide.

when you screen stories

Please be aware that some viewers may react strongly to the stories, especially if they have survived or witnessed violence themselves, are living with HIV/AIDS, or have family members/close friends who have been directly affected by violence or HIV stigma. We believe it is essential to alert people prior to any screening of stories about the content of what they will be watching.

Be prepared to manage and contain emotions that could arise in a group after watching stories, by remaining present and aware, offering individual support in the moment, and, if necessary, making follow-up referrals. If you’re not comfortable with these roles, we urge you to collaborate on story screenings with individuals/groups who are more skilled in facilitation, crisis counseling and trauma recovery, and group process management.

terms of use

The spirit of this project is one of partnership and support. The storytellers generously contributed their time and shared their most personal life experiences. We invite you to screen the stories broadly, as long as you are not doing so for commercial purposes. We also ask that you refrain from duplicating and/or selling the stories in any format, and that you acknowledge Sonke Gender Justice Network and Silence Speaks as producers.

If you would like a printed copy of any of the above guides together with the accompanying playable DVD, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .