WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: IN LOVING MEMORY OF LYNDE FRANCIS.

(8 November 1947- 31 March 2009)

In 62 years, one miraculously remarkable woman changed the face of HIV/AIDS health as we know it.

Getting to know the lady behind the Lynde Francis Trust (LFT)…

She was like any other woman; a mother, a sister, a daughter. All that changed in 1991 when Lynde decided to do what was thought of as unthinkable at that time- she publicly came out as HIV positive: and was the first white woman in Zimbabwe to do so. Unlike many who let themselves mentally and emotionally succumb to the virus, Lynde decided to fight. She would not let the condition get the best of her. Instead she chose to rise above it and become a beacon of hope for the already many people suffering with the dreadful condition within the country.

In 1994 she set up the Centre which was an organization that started off in her very own living room and later grew to become a community-based project that involved thousands of people. The true definition of ‘for the people by the people’, the support group was run by HIV+ members and was aimed at helping other HIV+ people develop a sense of hope and self-sufficiency. Her work, with time, became known nationally, regionally and internationally.

Lynde’s tireless effort to combat HIV/AIDS with such fervour and personal passion made her a very honourable and respected woman in the HIV Awareness community. People have said she did in one lifetime what some people could never do in ten lifetimes. Lynde proudly served on the boards of Women and AIDS Support Network (WASN), CEDAS Trust, and Zimbabwe Activists on HIV and AIDS (ZAHA). In addition, she was an advocate for the People Living with HIV (MIPA) and was the Southern African Regional Representative for the International Community of Women living with HIV (ICW). As if that wasn’t enough to boost her influence, Lynde served as a founding member of the Pan African Treatment Activists Movement (PATAM) AND was a member of the regional reference group for the ecumenical HIV and AIDS initiative in Africa (EHEIA). Now that is what you call a real-life Wonder Woman!

A woman who was considered a pioneer of her time and a maverick in her cause, she embodied the spirit of a true female fighter. Breaking cultural, class and racial norms by making her support groups all-inclusive , Lynde began the journey of disintegrating societal barriers for a greater common cause that saw beyond supremacist stigmas. Brave, inspirational, healing, passionate are some of the few words that could just begin to describe the woman she was. She gave everything she had for the people she mentored. Every fibre of her being was dedicated to her cause. And this is one of the reasons why it is of the utmost importance to continue her legacy. 10 years after her death, the Lynde Francis Trust is still going strong, proving that even after an amazing person has transcended past this life, their hard work and dedication can continue to reverberate through the society left behind.

As we part ways for now, I would like to leave you with three quotes that I hope will inspire the HIV+ people reading this to keep fighting for THEIR cause, which is what Lynde would have wanted them to do:

“HIV stands for Hope is Vital.”- Lynde Francis herself

“It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance.”- Elizabeth Taylor

“One of the best ways to fight stigma and empower HIV-positive people is by speaking out openly and honestly about who we are and what we experience.”- Alex Garner, HIV Activist

I am so excited for you to join us on this journey as we discover ourselves and our true calling. Remember, always stay grateful and always stay powerful.

By Alisson Bezuidenhout.