My heart is so heavy, we have some really sad news and I need you as SEW supporters to stand with us.

Apio Hellen started the SEW programme in 2021 as an independent mother about to start her journey to financial independence she had previously been selling avocados and bananas on a tray balanced on her head but when she went to hospital with TB, which they thought at the time she would die of, her small business, home and children had all destabilised. She was a joy to be around, we made beautiful memories with her in the first 2 months of the programme crafting, workouts, praise and worship, self defence training. She was extremely talkative and always had a good story to make everyone laugh.

I don’t normally share too much about the SEW ladies stories for their own privacy. I also want people to support us because they want to empower women not feel sorry for them. Today I need your help and I’d like to share the journey we’ve been on with Hellen and Medina over the last 4 years.

When we start the programme we talk to the women about disclosing their status due to us using razor blades and needles in our crafting, so we were aware that Helen was living positively with HIV, however we were in aware that Hellen had developed HIV psychosis from untreated HIV and after turning up to the community centre one day amidst an attack we immediately moved her in with us fearing for her safety.

We then found that her 14 year old daughter Medina had been left to be ‘cared’ for by a neighbour ever since Hellen had been in hospital fighting TB, but actually she was not looked after at all and was being forced to sell alcohol to men on the streets at night out of old water bottles. As this was during Covid-19 when there was a 5pm curfew in the area, Medina was not only subject to harassment and at risk of sexual assault she was also being chased and beaten by the authorities for being out after curfew.

After battling the pull of Stockholm’s syndrome Medina came to live with us, this was the first time she was in a space where she was safe and didn’t have to worry about her next meal. Later we also took in Hellens mum who also suffers with her own Mental Health issues.

There are no Mental Health institutes in Lira and when Hellen had her attacks and was at her worst she would miss vital medication. As Hellen had a period of time where she wasn’t compliant with medication, her HIV unfortunately progressed to AIDS. I was determined to protect this woman and keep her safe within our home so that we could ensure she would take her medication. When Hellen was at her worst we could hear her from 4am talking whilst sweeping the entire compound shouting fire. I would find myself attempting to soothe her whilst she was in extreme distress. I’d be sat in the dust with her at 3am in street or in someone’s chicken house she’d got herself into..during these periods of psychosis where she needed protection and security I would be there to give her that. Other members of the public couldn’t believe that I’d ‘risk’ being so close to this woman and come to her need when she was deep in her psychosis. We have on many occasions found her unclothed or worse covered in excrement. I knew she was extremely vulnerable not everyone would bode so kindly to someone appearing in their home in the early hours screaming but knowing Hellens prognosis I just wanted this lady to keep her dignity as much as possible and have family support.

At times Hellen would come up with elaborate stories that would even make me/us sound terrible to the public listening but I was determined not to give up on her. Walter, Emma and I did everything in our power to ensure her safety during these attacks but it’s been no easy feat without health facility support.

As Hellens daughter, Medina had been living in the same home as her mum and witnessing our struggle to support her, their relationship had developed. Medina had gone from feeling abandoned by her, to feeling embarrassed to forming a loving relationship and being worried about her.

In between Hellens periods of psychosis we had very beautiful times and cherished great memories with Hellen where she would sing and cook traditional meals for us all, we’d have her hair done and when she was at her best she would go show and show off her new look to the ladies she use to sell avocados and bananas to. She always had a funny story to tell and a beautiful smile. She was gentle and I feel really saddened that there isn’t the medical facilities to protect and support women like Hellen from the complexities of the disease she had.

By the time I came back to the UK in June 2021 Hellen was in a better place and she’d not had an attack for a couple of months, Walter was helping to regulate her medication, we even started thinking of the possibility of her starting a small business, until one day she disappeared, they looked for her everywhere and found that she had been in a motorbike accident, we paid for her treatment and then Jessica and Walter nursed her to health in her bedroom at the centre.

We came to the conclusion she would be safer to relocate with her mum to a village where she wasn’t at risk of road accidents or people with guns etc, we gave her oldest daughter money to support them with food. At the end of 2022 she moved back to town but lived with her elder daughter, she’d had a few attacks but they were manageable and Walter still helped out when he could and when Hellen was in a good way she would even come and visit Medina at the centre.

Medina is now 19 and has lived with us over 4 years, we have taken her in as a daughter in our family home. Hellen visited 2 weeks ago and video called me, she asked me ‘when are you coming back I miss you’, I told her I loved her and would see her soon.

On Sunday night during my video call birthday when the kids were celebrating at my surprise party, two ladies came to the compound and told us Hellens body had been found in the army barracks. She is finally at peace.

Walter has been in charge of communicating her death and organising a burial and meetings for it.

In Uganda you are usually buried at your ancestral home either your mother or fathers side or if you are married in your marital home. Due to not knowing her father from the other side of Uganda and her mum not having ownership of land, after yesterday’s meeting an Auntie came forward to allow her to be laid to rest on their land.

We have paid the mortuary for cleaning and keeping her body for the week and have created a budget for the funeral, they are doing a collection locally however the few relatives that Hellen has are not in position to raise the capital for her burial.

Fiona has been communicating with the SEW ladies, who are pulling together with the little they have. Please help us to lay Hellen to rest and give her the dignified funeral she deserves. Thank you for your support in advance ♥️