“I received support which inspired me to support others" - How becoming a peer provider opens doors and changes lives for young people

By Joseph Moyo in Zimbabwe

"My journey as a peer provider began long before I officially took on the role. As a young person living with HIV, I joined a support group where I found encouragement, friendship and a sense of belonging. For the first time, I met other young people who understood my experiences and reminded me that HIV did not have to define my future. That support changed my life. It also inspired me to give something back. 

When I saw a close friend struggling with HIV-related stigma and finding it difficult to stay engaged in care, I realised how much difference the right support could make. I wanted other young people to experience the same acceptance and hope that I had found. That was what motivated me to become a Community Adolescent Treatment Supporter. 

From the beginning, I realised that peer support is about much more than sharing information. It is about building trust. Every home visit, counseling session and clinic appointment was an opportunity to listen without judgement, answer questions honestly and remind young people that they were never facing HIV alone. 

Because I shared many of their experiences, conversations often flowed naturally. Young people spoke openly about the challenges they were facing: stigma, relationships, school, treatment, mental health and fears about the future. Sometimes they simply needed someone who would sit with them until they were ready to talk. 

One young person, in particular, will always stay with me. She had recently tested positive for HIV and was struggling to accept her diagnosis. Every conversation felt difficult, and she found it hard to imagine what life would look like moving forward. Instead of rushing to give advice, I spent time simply listening. Slowly, our conversations became easier. Together we worked through her fears, discussed treatment and explored her goals for the future. Over time, she regained confidence, stayed engaged in care and eventually completed her tertiary education. Watching her graduate remains one of the proudest moments of my career. It reminded me that peer providers do not simply help young people survive. We help them believe they can thrive. 

Not every day was easy. Supporting young people through difficult experiences sometimes meant carrying their worries long after the conversation had ended. There were moments when I questioned whether I had said the right thing or whether I could have done more. Those experiences taught me that peer providers also need support. 

The mentorship I received throughout my journey was invaluable. Experienced supervisors created spaces where we could reflect on difficult cases, learn from one another and continue building our confidence. That support helped me grow, not only as a peer provider, but as a professional. 

Fair remuneration also made an enormous difference. Being recognised and compensated for my work meant I could continue serving my community while also investing in my own future. It enabled me to complete my tertiary studies, opening opportunities that would previously have seemed beyond my reach. Today, I work as a Programme Associate, supporting and supervising peer providers who are now making a difference in their own communities. In many ways, I see my younger self in them. 

I understand both the excitement and the challenges they experience because I have walked that same path. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping them build the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to support other young people effectively. Watching them grow reminds me that every peer provider has the potential to become a future leader. 

Looking back, I realise that becoming a peer provider transformed far more than my career. It changed how I saw myself. I gained knowledge that I am proud to share with other young people so that they can survive and thrive. I discovered strengths I never knew I had, learned how to support others with empathy and developed the confidence to pursue opportunities I had never imagined possible. 

Most importantly, I learned that investing in young people creates a ripple effect. When a young person receives support, they often go on to support someone else. When a peer provider receives quality training, mentorship and fair remuneration, they are able to strengthen communities today while building the skills to become tomorrow's programme managers, health professionals and leaders. 

That is exactly what happened in my own life. I began as a young person looking for support. Today, I have the privilege of supporting both adolescents living with HIV and the next generation of peer providers who will continue this work long into the future. That is why I believe peer provider programmes are about far more than delivering services. They are about investing in people. And when we invest in young people, they do not simply change their own futures—they help transform the futures of countless others".

- Joseph Moyo, 29 , is a former Peer Provider and now Programme Associate of Zimbabwe's Community Adolescent Treatment Supporter (CATS) programme. He has dedicated his career to showing that living with HIV is not “the end of the world.”  

As a CATS, Joseph provided essential counseling through home visits and hospital engagements, supporting adolescents and youth in navigating treatment and care. He strengthened his skills in mental health and psychosocial support, while also building strong networks with service providers to ensure that young people receive high‐quality, comprehensive care. Through consistent mentorship, he helped adolescents and young adults build resilience, contributing to notable improvements in viral suppression among those he supported.  

The supervision, mentorship, and fair remuneration he received during his time as a peer provider enabled him to complete his tertiary studies. With this combination of experience and new academic credentials, Joseph was promoted to Programme Associate. In this position, he provides programmatic oversight and supervisory support to other peer providers, continuing his commitment to empowering young people while contributing to stronger, more effective community‑based HIV services.