This 40-page booklet is a collection of the personal stories and experiences of 14 African religious leaders - 12 Christians and two Muslims - who are either living with HIV or are personally affected by HIV and AIDS. They include ordained religious leaders and lay people who have a leading role in their faith community.

This booklet was written primarily for a wide range of church leaders, including priests and pastors; religious sisters and brothers; lay church leaders; staff and students of Bible schools, theological colleges and other church training institutions; staff of church hospitals and health centres; leaders of church-based women’s movements, men’s fellowships and youth groups; faith-based NGOs; and national, regional, and international church organisations and networks. According to the writers this booklet has three main purposes. First to enable church groups and communities to discuss HIV and AIDS, health, sexual behaviour, and issues related to religion and culture more freely and openly than is usually the case. Second, to demonstrate that being HIV-positive is not a cause for shame, despair, fatalism or discrimination; and third, to help reduce HIV-related stigma within faith communities by demonstrating that religious leaders too can contract HIV, but that they can also live positively and openly with the virus.

The booklet is part of the 'Called to Care' toolkit, developed by the Strategies for Hope Trust, which consists of practical, action-oriented booklets and mini-manuals on issues related to HIV/AIDS, designed for use by church leaders, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Click here for online access to the Positive Voices resource.