“We are different – we are equal!”: Fundacja HelpNow launches a social project to support vulnerable groups in Poland

Women, people with disabilities, migrants, and those in need of support — these are the groups targeted by the new project “We are different – we are equal!”, implemented by Fundacja HelpNow HUB with financial support from AIDS Healthcare Foundation and AHF Poland. The initiative has been running for over two months in five Polish cities: Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Wrocław, and Białystok.

“We want every person — regardless of their background, health status, or life circumstances — to feel safe, to have access to quality information, medical care, and support. Equality is not a slogan, it’s our daily work,” emphasizes Anna Ariabinska, Director of Fundacja HelpNow HUB.

The project includes a range of activities in educational, medical, and psychological areas. Among the planned initiatives are five 12-hour WenDo training sessions, in which 60 women from five Polish cities will participate. WenDo is a self-defense method designed specifically for women.

“WenDo training is not just about physical protection. It’s about confidence, asserting your boundaries, and the power to be yourself,” adds Ariabinska.

The project also provides consultations on HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, as well as support for social adaptation and legal aid. Free, anonymous HIV, hepatitis C, and syphilis testing with pre- and post-test counseling is regularly carried out in Bydgoszcz and Białystok. Psychological support is also available to the project team.

According to recent data, 2,876 new cases of HIV were recorded in Poland in 2023 — the highest number ever registered. For comparison, just a few years ago, the average was around 1,000 cases per year. The number of infections among foreigners is growing particularly rapidly — 753 cases were registered in 2022, three times more than in 2021. Women account for about 20–21% of new HIV cases in Poland, and this number is slowly increasing. A significant portion of women are diagnosed at late stages, which complicates treatment and increases the risk of complications.

“A single test can change or even save a life. We want people not to fear the truth. Modern medicine allows people with HIV to live fully — the key is knowing your status in time,” stresses the Director of the Foundation.

The goal of “We are different – we are equal!” is to improve access to healthcare services for vulnerable groups, raise awareness about HIV, hepatitis, and other infections, promote a culture of regular testing, provide psychological support, and reduce HIV-related stigma. All of this is aimed at creating a safe environment where every person — regardless of gender, nationality, physical condition, or social status — has equal rights to health, support, and a life of dignity.

The Foundation invites everyone interested to take part in free, quick, and anonymous HIV testing in Bydgoszcz and Białystok. A detailed schedule is available by calling: +48 786 640 460 or +48 575 023 612, or by messaging Fundacja HelpNow HUB on social media.

“We’re not just offering services — we are building a community where everyone has the right to care, health, and a life of dignity!” concludes Anna Ariabinska.

HIV Poland

The freedom to be yourself: Kateryna’s story of resilience, fighting violence, and living with HIV

“I’m a mother of three, a woman with a history of substance use, now 18 years in remission. I live with HIV. And I am a free woman,” says Kateryna (name changed). Her story is one of resilience, responsibility, and the ability to rebuild herself after violence, addiction, and loss.

Kateryna learned about her HIV status in 2005, during her first pregnancy. “There was no PCR testing back then, only antibody tests. But I was immediately registered in Kyiv, received prevention treatment — and my baby was born healthy. Just like my other two children.” Since the beginning, Kateryna has been taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) and has never stopped treatment.

Relocating to Poland didn’t stand in her way: “I took a certificate from home, and initially had six months of ART with me. Then I simply went to a local infectious disease specialist — and that was it. They registered me, gave me the medication. The drugs are different here, but my viral load is undetectable. Everything’s fine. By the way, whenever friends or relatives move abroad, I tell them: contact the HelpNow team — they really do help.”

In Poland, Kateryna works and supports herself and her children. She holds multiple qualifications: medical worker, cosmetologist, and certified psychologist. But her story is not just about living with HIV and maintaining her health. It’s also a story of survival, endurance, and the difficult path of leaving abusive relationships.

Kateryna speaks openly about the years she lived with violence — physical, psychological, sexual and economical. The hardest part, she says, was recognizing how deeply ingrained her fear of being seen as “bad” was in her behavior. “I always tried to be the ‘good girl.’ I did everything myself, carried it all alone. I thought that was my role. And when I started to break away, to stand up for myself — the response was aggression.”

None of her former partners helped after the breakups. “I didn’t file for child support for seven years. I was ashamed. But then I just got angry — and I filed.”

Now, Kateryna is not in a relationship — and that’s a conscious choice. “I don’t see the point in going back to a dynamic where I end up dragging someone along again. If I ever truly want to be with someone, I’ll go to therapy and figure out why.”

Her survival formula is simple: rely on herself. “We don’t need a ‘savior.’ We need resources. If I know I can feed myself — I’m already safe. Everything else can be figured out. Education, financial independence, self-respect — that’s my strength.”

Kateryna’s story is one of deep transformation that begins with being honest with yourself. It’s about a freedom that no longer agrees to stay silent or endure abuse. And a resilience that is born from a simple decision — to stay with yourself and stand up for yourself.

“Everything we need is already within us. We just have to give ourselves permission to lean on it.”

***

The publication was prepared within the framework of the “From Heart to Heart” project in partnership with Zjednoczenie Pozytywni w Tęczy and Step by Step Fundacja, with financial support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

HIV Poland Violence

“I Am Not Alone”: Oksana’s Journey of Support, Acceptance, and a New Beginning

Oksana (name changed) reached out to a consultant from the HelpNow HUB Foundation as part of the From Heart to Heart project during a very difficult period in her life. She learned that her first husband had died from AIDS, which was a severe shock for her. To find out her own status, she ordered an HIV test, took it — and the result came back positive.

During this challenging time, Oksana received all the necessary information and support:
“I am sincerely grateful to your organization for the support and care. During this difficult period, you provided me not only with psychological help but also with the strength to move forward. Thank you for your warm words, understanding, and for making me feel that I am not alone.”

The consultant helped Oksana find a laboratory in Poland where she could confirm the test. After completing the tests and receiving official confirmation, she was scheduled for a doctor’s appointment. At the medical center, she quickly underwent the necessary examinations — CD4 count and viral load — and just a week after the tests, Oksana began effective therapy.

“Special thanks to you for the reliable information about treatment and testing, for explaining everything honestly, openly, and without judgment. This is very important.”
Oksana also took care of her child’s health by testing them for HIV — the consultant sent her the appropriate test kits. The result was negative.

“Thank you for referring me for tests and for accompanying me every step of the way. Thanks to you, I was able to take important steps toward acceptance and self-care. You are incredible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

***

The publication was prepared within the framework of the “From Heart to Heart” project in partnership with Zjednoczenie Pozytywni w Tęczy and Step by Step Fundacja, with financial support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.


HIV Poland