Diving into DREAMS: Our latest updates and stories
In sub-Saharan Africa, a staggering majority of new HIV infections occur among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15-24 years. UNAIDS reports that this group accounted for 63 percent of new HIV infections in 2022. Though new HIV infections have decreased in this population globally, they are not at the level needed for epidemic control.
Adolescent girls and young women who face social isolation, poverty, discriminatory cultural norms, orphanhood, gender-based violence, inadequate schooling, and other factors are at high risk of acquiring HIV. Due to these factors, they might depend on transactional sex for financial stability, which can also lead to a greater risk of gender-based violence, HIV, and other poor health outcomes like unplanned pregnancies.
But with new skills and a supportive environment, these adolescent girls and young women can break the cycle, increase confidence, and make healthy decisions for themselves.
DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) is a partnership developed by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Response (PEPFAR). The DREAMS goal is to reduce HIV prevalence among AGYW ages 10 to 24 in 16 countries with high rates of HIV. DREAMS operates across multiple sectors including health, economic growth, education, and civil society engagement.
DREAMS by the numbers
USAID is proud to be the lead implementer of the PEPFAR DREAMS partnership globally. In FY2023, USAID contributed to reaching up to 2 million AGYW through DREAMS programs, representing 80% of the total number of AGYW supported by PEPFAR.
Through the PEPFAR DREAMS partnership, USAID in FY2023:
- Provided 1.4 million AGYW with HIV and violence prevention education that is delivered through mentor-led safe spaces or in partnership with schools. This education, supportive peer networks, and trusted mentors allow AGYW to build their social assets.
- Identified AGYW with additional risks or vulnerabilities and provided:
- Over 335,000 AGYW with education, increased access, and support in their informed choice to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
- 179,000 AGYW with economic strengthening interventions, which provide them with the technical skills and networks to become entrepreneurs or be linked to wage employment.
- Over 449,000 AGYW with educational support which could include school and exam fees, uniforms and materials, tutoring, and/or basic literacy.
Keep scrolling to read seven inspiring DREAMS stories.
Gcinile and Pheladi from Eswatini
Gcinile (in the white hat) meets with the other young women she runs a chicken egg laying business with and their Business Mentor (carrying a booklet). Gcinile is a champion for HIV prevention in her community. Credit: World Vision
Gcinile is one of 6,000 adolescent girls and young women currently enrolled in the DREAMS program in the Southern Eswatini region. When Gncilie became part of the DREAMS program, she immediately took advantage of the sessions. She learned about and gained access to family planning options and PrEP for HIV prevention. She also took part in the economic strengthening services that the DREAMS program provided and joined a group of 12 other DREAMS participants to start a chicken egg laying business. The DREAMS program provided them with more than 50 chickens for their small business, and they are now successfully selling the eggs door-to-door to nearby schools and communities.
Gcinile was asked to serve as a PrEP ambassador for the DREAMS program. In this role, she regularly talks to other young women about the benefits of PrEP. Through this role, Gcinile has attended international virtual conferences on HIV/AIDS and has connected with other young women from around the world who are also working to prevent HIV in their communities.
I tell the [adolescent] girls [and young women] not on PrEP that as a young woman, you are at risk for HIV if you are dating someone who has multiple partners. PrEP can help keep you safe from HIV,” Gcinile says.
Pheladi, 23, saw many of the young women in her community engage in relationships with older men because they had no other means to make money. Pheladi knew she wanted to secure financial independence for herself but after graduating high school she felt stuck without job prospects or opportunities - a common experience for youth in Eswatini.
USAID local partner, Young Heroes, implements the DREAMS partnership in five constituencies in Eswatini and is helping Pheladi and other young women to gain new skills, start their own small businesses, and learn life-changing financial management strategies. USAID paid for Pheladi to complete a course to learn the necessary skills for construction. She was hired for a job building a supermarket in her community.
Now that I am financially independent, I make my own choices,” she says.
Pheladi. Credit: Young Heroes
Lerato From Lesotho
Lerato Tsemane. Credit: Polo Matlalane Motsoari
Lerato Tsemane, a 23-year-old woman from Lesotho, first learned that she could take control of her health, prevent an unplanned pregnancy, and protect herself against HIV when she joined the DREAMS program in 2020. Now a champion of self-care, Lerato is one of 40 DREAMS Ambassadors in Lesotho who channel their youthful energy into educating their peers on the importance of COVID-19 vaccination. Using the communication and leadership skills she has developed through DREAMS, Lerato is now supporting vaccination campaigns, which are a big part of Lesotho’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
As young girls, we want to spend most of our time socializing and having fun with friends, so protecting ourselves by getting vaccinated is really important,” said Lerato.
Adelaide and Wendy from Namibia
Adelaide. Credit: USAID
Before Adelaide, 21, became involved with the DREAMS program, she says she didn’t have a role model in her life. As a single mother, she was selling baked goods door-to-door to support herself and her child. Through DREAMS, Adelaide learned about HIV prevention options, such as PrEP, and received the equipment and funding needed to expand her baking business. Today, Adelaide is running a successful baking business out of a hostel in Windhoek, Namibia. With her earnings, she is putting money towards her rent, essentials for herself and her child, and her education – Adelaide is pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing at the University of Namibia. She also serves as a DREAMS PrEP Ambassador, educating her fellow college students about PrEP.
I tell my classmates, ‘As an independent woman, it’s about protecting yourself from HIV.’”
Wendy, 23, credits her DREAMS program mentor with helping to change her life. Before DREAMS, Wendy, a single mother, said that she struggled to feed herself and her two children. She dropped out of school in grade 11 after her first pregnancy and felt directionless. Through the DREAMS program, Wendy was selected for a three-month training course to become a medical receptionist. DREAMS covered the cost of the training and transportation to and from the training facility. This year, Wendy completed an internship where she put the skills she learned to use and hopes to find permanent employment as a medical receptionist.
I can confidently say I have all the necessary information to protect and look after myself,” says Wendy.
Wendy. Credit: USAID
Mapesho and Christine from Zambia
Mapesho provides hair styling services at her salon. Credit: Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia
Mapesho Sefuke, 24, opens her beauty salon that she runs with her friend and fellow DREAMS participant Memory at 8 a.m. each day in Kitwe — Zambia’s third-largest city, about seven hours north of the capital. On a typical day, after cleaning the salon and displaying her hair products and accessories, she’ll see three to six customers who come in for hair braiding, a blowout or wash, and/or styling. On busy days, Mapesho hires additional help to serve her clients.
Mapesho and other participants in the DREAMS program study basic financial literacy in a 13-week skills and social asset building course, participate in a mentoring program that includes an internship and apprenticeship, and receive seed funding to start their small businesses.
Her plan is to own not just a salon, but a high-end beauty parlor.
I want my work to be known across the globe,” Mapesho said. “I also want to know all about business and entrepreneurship because I believe that obtaining knowledge is power, and I need that knowledge to expand my business.”
Christine Muzuka, 22, from Livingstone, Zambia, heard about the DREAMS program through two of her friends who encouraged her to join. Through the support of DREAMS, Christine now owns and operates her own grocery store, where she also provides tailoring services. Christine hopes to open a franchise of tailoring shops across her district and to mentor other young women in starting a small business through DREAMS.
Christine measures a client’s skirt for tailoring services. Credit: Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia