Fatihah contracted HIV from birth and became a resident at Rumah Solehah, a shelter in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, for women, children and orphans made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

Fortunately, Rumah Solehah took her in, considering the limited space and admission was based on the severity of cases.

Refusing to be enslaved by HIV, Fatihah has had to navigate a unique set of circumstances to overcome the stereotypes associated with her condition.

To alleviate the stigma at the time, she chose not to divulge her condition to friends. In her opinion, society was still ignorant and unwelcoming towards those who suffer from HIV/AIDS.

A teenager with diverse interests, she enjoys anime and hopes to realise her dream of becoming an independent and successful entrepreneur.

To kick off her entrepreneurship endeavours, Fatihah started a lemonade business with the help of a local company, and hopes to attract more customers through social media.

“I don’t let society’s judgments cripple my resolve. I stay motivated to achieve my goals,” she said.

Fatihah’s drive to become a businesswoman also spurred her to cultivate IT skills, which she hopes will help her keep up with the digitalised world.

“I want to pick up Canva (a graphic design platform) and expose myself to other marketing strategies to expand my business,” she told FMT as part of World AIDS Day today.

Unfortunately, the resources at Rumah Solehah are limited, with only basic education and care given to its residents.

Rumah Solehah project coordinator Fathiiah Hamzah explained that the small budget and lack of commitment from volunteer educators mean that not much more can be done for the residents.

“The available funds only satisfy necessities, and the teachers are entrenched by the stigma of HIV/AIDS,” she said.

Both Fatihah and Fathiiah yearn for greater awareness from the public about the life-long condition and firmly believe that a well-informed society will provide much-needed support for paediatric HIV/AIDS victims.