A group of young students at the Kizuiani Primary School peer out of the barred classroom window. They are isolated from other students during their school break because of their HIV positive status. All wear the RED badge insignia sewn on their school uniforms alerting their teachers that they should be excused from physical activity that may exacerbate their health. Other students tease the children that they cannot be participating in the games. Virtually all of these children have no knowledge that they are HIV positive. They are led to believe it is because they are 'sick', suffering from malaria, fainting spells, TB, never AIDS. Stigma fuels ignorance which is one of the most damaging obstacles in the prevention of the pandemic. Kipati Town, Tanzania 2nd June 2010

Children wearing Red Badges at the Kizuiani Primary School peer out of their classroom window as their schoolmates play games during the morning break. These children are excluded from participating because the teachers fear their HIV positive status could be triggered creating a health problem the school is ill equipped to manage. This saddens these children who have little understanding of why they are isolated from their classmates and especially because the other students torment them about their wearing Red badges. Kizuiani Primary School, Kipati Town, Tanzania 2nd June 2010

At the Kizuiani Primary school the children exuberantly play simple games during one of their breaks in the morning. Kipati Town, Tanzania 12th June 2010

It is the end of term and the children at the Nzasa Primary School sit outdoors taking their final exams. It is the practice in many school for children to sit for exams in the open because the classrooms are too crowded to create ample space between them for their teachers to observe. Many of the children who wear the Red badges do not fare well in these exams simply because they miss far too many school days during the year from opportunistic illnesses’ of the AIDS virus. A sad and tragic avoidable situation because of the lack of consistant health care necessary to manage the virus. Nzasa, Tanzania 7th June 2010

This small group of HIV orphans get solace from one another because of their shared predicament of having lost their parents and being chronically ill from the HIV virus. The orphans do not understand why they are sick and have never heard of AIDS. Fear lubricates the stigma and prevents practical education these innocent victims suffer the consequences of being isolated amongst their peers. 27th May 2008 Rangi Tatu Primary School Mbagala District, Tanzania

Iklami huddled under the shade of a tree with one of his classmates who also wears the Red badge. He broke into tears because his mother had died a days earlier and his father had also passed away earlier in the year, both from the AIDS virus. He said he was afraid he would be alone because his grandmother was old and she too would die. 27th May 2008 Rangi Tatu Primary School Mbagala District, Tanzania

Liberius is 11 but has the stature of a six year old. He has been an AIDS orphan since he was five. Although he is on the antiretroviral drugs, they don’t seem to be improving his health. It is suspected the drugs aren’t being properly supervised. Mwita, a lanky 6’ boy has suffered from AIDS since he was 11 and almost died having lost more than half his body weight. After he was diagnosed with the AIDS virus, his father abandoned the family in fear of stigma and the responsibility of caring for an ill child. 30th May 2008 Konggowe Primary School Kongowe District, Tanzania

At the Masanganya Primary School HIV orphans, Maua 13 and Faridai 11 years are constantly sick but are ignorant of the root of their illness. Both girls are looked after by their aging grand parents who cannot support all their needs. The school head expressed concern that the girls weren’t receiving the life saving antiretroviral drugs because their grand parents were frightened of the stigma associated with the disease. Farida may have to leave school simply because she hasn’t shoes to wear which is requisite for all school children. 12th November 2007 Masanganya Village,Kisarawe District, Tanzania

Lessons in the class are conducted in Swahili, the national language of Tanzania. Many children before they attend school converse with their families in their local bantu language. Swahili helps unify the nation. These girls have limited knowledge of the HIV virus because their families refuse to talk to them about it . Although both are HIV+ they have no idea why they wear the Red badge. One of the girls said simply: “AIDS is death, nothing more … everyone knows that AIDS kills” Majimatitu Primary School Charambe/Temeke District, Tanzania 26th May 2008

At the Kizuiani Primary School these HIV positive Muslim students share the responsibility of writing the lesson questions on the black board for the class to respond in their exercise book. The classroom, like most in poor towns throughout Africa has very basic fixtures. There are old fashion desks, and a blackboard written on with chalk, Most teachers do not have a desk to sit behind and their average monthly salary is $125. Kizuiani Primary SchoolTemeke District, Kibondi Maji, Tanzania 1st June, 2010

Fatuma is in morning. Her mother died recently and her father a few years ago �" both parents succumbing to the AIDS virus. She too has tested positive but has not been told, a common occurrence amongst children where AIDS is spoken in whispers. Fatuma’s general health is poor, exacerbated by her suffering from cycle cell anaemia. She is depressed feeling ill all the time and missing school which she desperately wants to attend. She lives with her older sister but feels she is a burden because her husband does not want to support her. Fatuma is 13 years old. 11th June 2010 Kisiumi, Tanzania

Etta is 11 years old, an orphan since she was 5 when both her parents succumbed to the AIDS virus a few months apart. She is HIV positive but unaware of what AIDS is and complains that other children tease her because she wears the red badge. She is cared for by her frail grandmother who has no financial support and is deeply concerned that the landlord will ask them to vacate their tiny small cell of a room because she cannot pay the rent of $5.00 a month, a fortune of money for someone who has no earning capacity. Poverty is endemic in their community and is a significant factor in the AIDS pandemic. Mandazi Town, Tanzania 9th June 2010

Her dank room is filled with sadness. Sauda is an orphan like far too many children at the Nzasa Primary School. Most orphans at this school are a result of the AIDS pandemic which has decimated their community. She is ill and her great grandmother is desperate to access the life saving antiretroviral drugs for her but cannot afford the bus fare to go to the clinic. Sauda is brave but alone in her solitude she weeps daily. Mandazi Town, Tanzania 10th June 2010

Mwita, a lanky 6’ tall boy has suffered from AIDS since he was 11 and almost died having lost more than half his body weight. After he was diagnosed with the AIDS virus, his father abandoned the family in fear of stigma and the responsibility of caring for an ill child. He lives in poverty with his family in their sparce home. Mwita feels sad that his HIV positive status isolates him from his classmates. Kongowe District, Tanzania 30th May 2008

Sophia has been an orphan for a long time and barely remembers her parents. She is cared for by her older sister who shields her from the cruel stigma of neighbours. When Sophia returns home after school, the first thing she does is take off her school uniform and sometimes in anger, rips off the red badge which she associates with isolation from her classmates. Mandazi Town, Tanzania 6th June 2010

Joseph and Richard are twins born with acute disabilities related to the AIDS virus carried by their mother during pregnancy. Richard suffers from an abnormal mouth and distended jaw making it difficult to eat and Joseph is severely deaf. Both were tested for the virus and are positive but do not access treatment as the family cannot afford bus fare to go to the clinic. They are forced to wear RED badges sewn on their uniform denoting their AIDS status and tear them off as they despise being labeled ‘The Poor Health Boys' which invites regular fights. The family live in severe poverty sharing a cell size room. Their mother sleeps on the floor and the twins, with their older brother share the only bed. Uniquely, amidst their abject material poverty, their home, this tiny room is tidy and clean. Maji Matatu, Tanzania 10th June 2010

Richard and Joseph are non-identical twins �" both are HIV positive, both suffer from acute deformities created during their mother’s pregnancy when she relied on a witch doctor’s medication to treat her for AIDS. They are best friends and rely heavily on each other to cope with their daily disabilities. Richard’s deformed mouth creates daily pain and makes it excruciating difficult to swallow food. Joseph is deaf and desperately want to understand his lessons but without proper hearing, a difficult mission. Mandazi Town, Tanzania 10th June 2010

Two years ago John’s mother died of the AIDS virus. His father, of Hindu Indian ethnicity, had abandoned his mother whilst she was dying because he feared his family would disown him for marrying a local woman with the AIDS virus. John has been rejected by both sides of the family as a half-cast. A good samaritan old woman grandmother has opened her home to him but cannot provide support for his need of drugs from a clinic that is miles away. He despairs he will never have a normal life and prays his father will take pity and welcome him back, will love him. Keko, Tanzania 11 June 2010