My lovely people, you know how the word “First” always excites me. It wakes my curiosity in a positve way. I have experienced many “firsts”, like the first Dutch‑Burundian Dragking living openly wi…

With pride and urgency, I carried my message of HIV prevention and stigma reduction, delivered with the fervour our community deserves.

Jyoti Dhawale stands in the long lineage of people who refuse silence. For more than 20 years, she has lived openly with HIV in a society where stigma still tries to shape destiny.

Rio reminded me that ultimately the HIV response is powered by people from the many local HIV communities who refuse to disappear.

My story feels like time travel, which is not only about machines or science fiction. Sometimes, it is about memory, longing, and dreams that refuse to die.

Hello lovely people, earlier this week I was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at AIDS 2026 for less than a week but honestly it felt much longer. From the pre-conference to my final moments, I showed up …

I share the hardship, my HIV diagnosis, the moments of darkness, the joy of sharing my status, and the victory of choosing life.

Creativity has always been what shaped me and my HIV activism. As HIV Stigmafighter and as Eric the Dragking, I use every artistic form I have to challenge stigma, spark conversations, and demand a wo...

What is your desire? During the Amani weekend we chose connection over fear. Naming our dreams, challenging the voices that say “you can’t,” and reclaiming the power of community.   A stone I found in...

My lovely people, have you ever witnessed the moment a dreamer finally becomes a doer? That is what my story of today is about. Since childhood, I expressed myself through every art form I could fi…

I am excited to share that Eric the Dragking’s show to dance HIV stigma away at the Global Village of AIDS 2026 in Rio has been officially accepted. This has always been my home at these conferences. ...

YouTube video by HIV stigmafighter

Stigma will end if we all work together. HIV and AIDS will end if stigma is destroyed. Let's kick HIV stigma out as we enter 2026!

My lovely people, how are you? Do you miss me as much as I miss you? We are at the end of the year, and what a year it has been! Compared to last year, we have accomplished so much. Around this tim…

To all the amazing young artists of Gihanga: you are an inspiration. Let us continue this great work with positive energy and hope to end HIV.

In celebration of World AIDS Day 2025 in the Gihanga community, we continue our mission of reducing stigma.

My lovely people, how are you? It has been a while, but I have not forgotten any of you. Many of you remember where I spent World AIDS Day last year and the excitement I felt watching the young tal…

Today I am sharing something close to my heart: the story of my son, Rio Mutoni. When I was diagnosed with HIV, doctors told me I couldn’t have children. But I refused to accept that. So, thanks to…

Last night, the Amsterdam Dinner Event once again proved its power as the Netherlands' largest annual fundraiser for innovative, life-saving HIV initiatives.

When I arrived in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, in 2008 I was not Dutch. I was not HIV stigmafighter or Eric the Dragking. I was a Burundian woman, mother and wife, and living with HIV. There was no re...

While UNAIDS and numerous organizations continue advocating to end HIV and AIDS by 2030, the reality remains troubling: prevention tools exist, yet communities still struggle for access...

I was very proud to promote PrEP Diversity. As I pointed out, many people, especially women, with a migrant background are still overseen in stigma reduction and prevention efforts and still do not ha...

Last night, the Amsterdam Dinner Event once again proved its power as the Netherlands’ largest annual fundraiser for innovative, life-saving HIV initiatives. This year’s focus—PrEP access—cou…

To share your story publicly, especially with strangers, is not easy. But it's powerful. Because you never know who's listening, who's waiting for confirmation that they're not alone...

In a candid conversation about his decades of activism, theatre work, and advocacy, Matthew Hodson shares insights about HIV/AIDS awareness. His story blends personal experience with historical insigh...

While UNAIDS and numerous organizations continue advocating to end HIV and AIDS by 2030, the reality remains troubling: prevention tools exist, yet communities still struggle for access...

A decades-long scientific challenge in HIV vaccine development has been finding a way to train the immune system to produce antibodies that can target many variants of the virus. Traditional approache...

It's International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia #IDAHOBIT. The theme of this year is "The power of communities". When we come together in unity, we hold the power t...

Let's support local HIV action to continue bringing positive changes to our HIV communities!

YouTube video by HIV stigmafighter

My lovely people, Nelson Mandela once said “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up”. I continue to dream of a World free of Stigma and I know that soon this dream will come true for me to be a wi…