World AIDS Day 2025: Jakub’s Story

Luckily, he had a close friend by his side, Jakub reflects. With that support, he was able to take the first steps on his path to understanding and acceptance. “Luckily enough, I had a very good friend at that time, who supported me enormously that day and throughout adjusting to the diagnosis. I cannot thank him enough. Without him, it would take me much longer to get where I am now.” Having someone to listen, understand, and walk alongside you is exactly what peer support is all about.

At Waverley Care, peer mentors provide that same kind of support every day, helping people recently diagnosed with HIV feel heard, less alone, and empowered to take their first steps toward living well.

The Hidden Impact of Isolation and Mental Health  

At Waverley Care, we know that living with HIV can bring challenges beyond just managing a positive diagnosis, and for many people, it’s the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can make it even harder. “I think loneliness would affect anyone, not only people living with HIV. It is important to feel connected, listened to, and have support around you”, Jakub explains.

Mental health challenges can affect anyone, but for people living with HIV, they can create additional difficulties. These include taking treatment regularly or coping with anxiety around disclosure and self-acceptance.

“Mental health challenges worsen the well-being of people in general. For people with HIV, it can bring different challenges, like taking treatment regularly”, he says. Stigma can exacerbate these challenges.

This is exactly why peer support is so important: having someone who truly understands can make a real difference, helping people feel less alone, more supported and empowered to live their best life with HIV. 

Finding purpose through peer support  

Reflecting on his journey, Jakub says that having someone by his side after his diagnosis opened his eyes to just how life-changing that kind of support can be for someone.

It was that experience: the reassurance, understanding and sense of connection, that inspired him to take his first steps into becoming a Peer Mentor. “Peer mentoring came naturally after receiving peer support for some time. There was an opportunity to be trained as a peer mentor, so I went for it,” he explains.

For Jakub, becoming a peer mentor was about giving back what he had once received. “I wanted to give back what I had the privilege to receive when I got diagnosed: support and understanding.” Now, as part of Waverley Care’s Peer Support service, Jakub supports people navigating their own challenges.

Through this work, Jakub helps others find the same sense of hope and possibility that helped him move forward, showing that no one must face HIV alone. 

Belonging at Waverley Care  

In Jakub’s experience, Waverley Care has been more than just a place to volunteer, but a place of community that’s helped him grow, heal and find connection. “Being part of Waverley Care is a wonderful life experience,” he says. “It’s a community full of great people, and we learn from each other and support each other.”

The sense of belonging became a turning point in Jakub’s journey.

It’s this same feeling he now helps others to find through peer mentoring, and serves as a reminder that living with HIV isn’t just about health, but rather the community, compassion and connection that comes with Waverley Care.

The power of shared experience  

One of the most meaningful parts of Jakub’s role as a Peer Mentor is seeing how sharing his own experiences can help others feel less alone. “I believe sharing my own experiences and the struggles I have had to overcome might encourage others and show them that it’s possible to live well with HIV,” he says.

For many people who are involved in our peer mentor service, hearing from someone who’s walked a similar path can make all the difference and can turn that fear into hope. “To see that others have done it might empower them and give them the opportunity to feel great about themselves,” he explains.

Through honest conversations and empathy, Jakub helps people find their own strength in their stories and confidence in knowing that they, too, can live well with HIV.

The Small Moments That Make a Big Difference 

The power of peer support often lies in the simple, everyday moments that build hope and confidence. “Anytime I leave a peer session and see people leaving our meetings in a good mood is always a thing I will feel good about,” he says.

It’s in those small moments that can sometimes be easily missed: a smile, a lighter step, a deep breath and a sense of relief, that Jakub sees the real impact of what peer support can do. “I have witnessed people making positive changes in their lives while getting peer support so they can live the life they desire.”

Each connection might seem small, but together they create lasting change, helping people to live well with HIV.

The difference your support makes: Why funding matters  

At Waverley Care, support can look different for everyone. “There are many ways Waverley Care could support that, it might look like 1:1 support at the beginning, it can develop into support in our activity groups, walking groups, etc,” Jakub explains. “We have something for everyone. And these little steps of meeting like-minded individuals make a great difference in people’s lives. It is the sense of belonging.”

That sense of community is what helps people rebuild confidence and connection after diagnosis. For Jakub, seeing this in action reminds him why Waverley Care’s work matters so deeply and why peer support can be a fundamental part in the journey of acceptance. “What Waverley Care does make so much sense to me as someone living with HIV. It feels like the world is coming together to challenge stigma and make sure no one faces the impact of a diagnosis alone,” he says.

Jakub remembers fundraising last year at the Pleasance during the Fringe. “I was amazed at how supportive everyone was. There are not enough thank-yous to express the appreciation.”

That support makes a real difference, and without it, Jakub worries people would be left behin

This World AIDS Day, Jakub has one message for anyone wondering if their donation really matters: “I know times are rough at the moment. Your donation will make a difference. It will empower people to live well with HIV.” 

World AIDS Day 2025: Everybody Deserves to Live Well with HIV 

By sharing his story, Jakub hopes it will help people to understand just how impactful an HIV diagnosis can be. “I wish people understood that being diagnosed with HIV is  still a very devasting moment in people’s lives. HIV has had many different labels in the past, which has caused a lot of pain across different generations,” he says.

For him, it was the support that made all the difference. “Without the support of Waverley Care, people would be struggling to get back on their feet and live well.” That’s why he is passionate about the work of peer mentors and the wider community at Waverley Care.

“Everybody deserves to live well and happily. I got where I am thanks to the support Waverley Care offers. I cannot thank them enough.”