Ms Thembi Boyana is the social worker at the Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu (FAMCRU) in Cape Town, South Africa for 15 years, since 2008. I provide psychosocial support for various research participants and their families, to improve the quality of life of participants by empowering them, protecting their human rights, advocating on their behalf when required and improving their health, safety, and wellbeing. I’ve taken the lead in assisting families disclose the HIV status of their children. Impressively, none of the 120 children that Ms. Boyana assisted with disclosure have experienced issues such as rejection of families, depression, conflict with their parents or worsening adherence. In 2017 Ms. Boyana initiated an adolescent peer support group program for approximately 80 adolescents affected by HIV. This group has had a hugely positive impact on the lives of these adolescents by empowering, educating, and instilling a positive attitude towards living with HIV.
