JYOTI

I AM

An HIV advocate, changemaker, global ambassador, community advisory board member, and blogger from India, grounded in resilience, compassion, and a commitment to dignity for people living with HIV.

My strength lies in transforming lived experience into understanding. I connect with real stories and make complex HIV information human and accessible. Whether speaking at international conferences, mentoring peers, training healthcare providers, or engaging with communities, I work to build empathy and challenge stigma. My advocacy spans women’s rights, ageing with HIV, U equals U, and the inclusion of people with disabilities in the HIV response.

I stand as a Hero of Hope because my journey is not only mine. It is a bridge that helps others walk toward courage, clarity, and community.

OPEN

I have been living with HIV for more than 21 years. In 2010, I made the life‑changing decision to publicly share my HIV status. It was a moment filled with fear, but it became the turning point that transformed my vulnerability into purpose.

I have faced discrimination, gender inequality, and the loneliness that often surrounds people living with HIV. Yet I also discovered strength, solidarity, and the power of speaking truth. Over the years, I have worked with communities, organisations, healthcare providers, and policymakers in India and around the world. I raise awareness, improve access to treatment, and support women living with HIV. Through public speaking, media interviews, community education, and global partnerships, I use my lived experience to inspire change and make life better for others.

I share my story because I know what it means to feel alone, and I know how life changes when someone shows you that survival, joy, and dignity are possible. My hope is that no one has to go through what I went through. My message is that HIV is not the end. It can be the beginning of strength. If my story gives one person hope, every step of my journey has been worth it.