Just taking your pills when everyone is around and talking freely about your problems without being afraid of negative reactions? How great would that be? Or just listening to the stories and experiences of someone who has the same condition as you. The Young Ones allows young people with HIV between the ages of 11 and 21 to meet up. To talk about things that concern them, to go out together, attend workshops or just make friends. Because together we are stronger. We often see the development of friendship groups that stay in contact with one another or chat on WhatsApp and see each other regularly. But not everyone wants to join in.

Annouschka Weijsenfeld (42), children's HIV consultant

Numerous studies have shown that contact between fellow sufferers can be very important for young people with a chronic condition. It's good to know that you're not the only one and you can exchange experiences and tips with each other. We devote a lot of attention to this. Twice a year, we organize a gathering for youngsters between the ages of twelve and twenty who have HIV and are being treated somewhere in the Netherlands. The first time, we go on a day out together and the second time we go away for a long weekend or a week. Extraordinary friendships develop. Many children are in contact with each other, even outside of the activities. It is really nice to be in a group in which you can take your pills without having to keep it hidden, and that you can just talk about it. During the week, we put on leisure activities, but also organize workshops, information sessions and quizzes. It is partly about knowledge, how you cope with the stigma and secrecy. But we also just have fun; we play sports and dance together.
It is a very special group and everyone is very open toward each other. Even young people who come for the first time are immediately welcomed into the group – everyone can remember how nerve-racking it was the first time!

Maureen (16)

All children who have HIV occasionally come together. That's organized by the hospitals. You can just talk about it in a relaxed way without being judged. And you can share experiences and learn from one another. Before that, I didn't have anyone to talk to about it. At home it was also a bit awkward. Since then I have learned to talk about it with people who also have it and with my mom and sister.

Marjee (18)

I try to go to The Young Ones every time. It's nice to be able to take your medication without worrying and to hear the stories and experiences of others.
Are they very different from my experiences? Some are, some not. One girl who told people that she had HIV lived in a village. The whole village turned against her. I've not had that experience.
We look each other up online as well. I have a few friends from doing that and we see each other every few months.

Jim (21)

Do I spend time with other young people who have HIV? Yes, I benefit a lot from that. I can discuss everything and we understand each other's situation. It means a lot to me. The group consists of six people including me. We also look each other up, two or three times a year we spend the weekend together and occasionally we go out with everyone. We talk about finding a relationship. Then we mostly talk about how to tell your partner. Most of them have had good experiences with that. We also talk about having children.
But also practical things like the fact that it's hard to apply for a mortgage if you have HIV. Medical information about my pills and so on I get from my doctor.

Joyce (20)

I spend a lot of time with other young people who have HIV. I met them at the hospital when I was about thirteen. Then I was invited on a trip and got to know some new people. I have seven fellow HIV sufferers as my best friends. We have group chats on WhatsApp and also meet up with each other. We are true best friends! We call ourselves TFC, Team Family Camp. We see each other as family. Most of the people from the group occasionally post something online saying that they are going to camp, and then other people ask "what camp?" They don't know about TFC and that's great. You can immediately reveal your deepest secrets. Everyone is very open with each other. The idea that you can trust someone because you know that everyone has the same thing. That makes the bond strong. It's nice to talk to each other because we know how the other person is feeling. You can give each other advice and talk about it together.

Gerald (14)

Do I meet up with other young people who have HIV? No, and I don't feel the need to either. I have been asked about The Young Ones, but I don't really feel like it. I have my parents to talk to about it, that's enough.

Ashley (15)

Occasionally we go away for the weekend, that's organized by the hospitals. The first time I went along I was the only white person with blond hair and blue eyes! I was shocked. I didn't feel very comfortable in the beginning. After that it all went well and I went hiking with everyone. I like that we all have the same condition and can talk about it. We can share our problems. We have a lot of contact, we're in a WhatsApp group and arrange things together like a day in Rotterdam, for example. I talk to one boy a lot. I really like that. I thought that it only happened to girls, but that's not true. That idea changed when I saw all the others.

Ferdinand (14)

Do I go to The Young Ones? It's good fun. I go once a year. We also stay in contact via WhatsApp. It really helps me. When we chat on WhatsApp, they ask things like whether I've already taken my medication, it makes me feel happy. We talk about school and about the future. We often meet up with each other at the weekend. Then we arrange to meet somewhere and do something fun. It's like a sort of family for me. We talk about the illness, but also do fun things. My friends with HIV live far away. It would be nice if they lived closer to me. I'd like to have a group of other young people with HIV who meet up regularly. I would really get a lot out of that. At the moment I occasionally feel quite lonely.

Benjamin (21)

Would I like to have contact with fellow HIV sufferers? Yes, it would be nice to meet people who also have HIV. To be able to talk about it. Preferably with guys who are gay, I haven't found any yet.

Martin (17)

I first came into contact with The Young Ones when I was twelve. I still really enjoy it. On average there are 25 young people from all round the country. I'm now one of the older ones. Recently when new children joined, I had a sort of father role. I had to make sure everyone was okay, and that children were not alone. I really enjoyed doing that. Some young people aged 25 are supervisors. My aim is to be one of those as well. There is now also Positive Kids for children aged nine to twelve. None of them know yet. I want to be a supervisor of that as well; I was recently asked. We all do fun activities and don't actually talk about HIV much. We climb trees, swim and do all sorts of things. Even though we don't often talk about it, it's the openness, you can just be yourself. In normal life I'm still not myself, I feel like I'm not.