About the project

A commitment to making a positive difference.

Positive Impact 20 marks twenty years since I was diagnosed with HIV.

To mark that milestone, I'm returning to Africa to volunteer on community health and education projects in Livingstone, Zambia, supporting local initiatives that improve wellbeing, opportunity and resilience.

Why Zambia?

This project isn't about charity tourism. It's about working alongside local organisations that are already making a difference, supporting community-led health and education initiatives, and learning from the people who live and work there every day.

I will be volunteering with African Impact, an organisation that works alongside local communities on health, education and development projects throughout southern Africa.

Through African Impact, I’ll be part of a team delivering health and education outreach, supporting workshops, and helping with community initiatives that improve everyday wellbeing and create lasting positive change, while learning more about resilience, resourcefulness, and what ‘impact’ really looks like when it’s shared.

It’s volunteering grounded in collaboration - working alongside those who are already helping their own communities to thrive. Empowering local people and making sure each project leaves something lasting behind.

Why 2026?

On 1 August 2026, it will be twenty years since I was diagnosed with HIV.

When I received that diagnosis in 2006, I worried about my health, my future, my relationships and whether I would be able to live the life I wanted.

Twenty years later, I find myself in a very different place.

I have built a career, travelled, volunteered, served as a charity trustee and chair, and met extraordinary people along the way.

I wanted to mark this milestone in a meaningful way by doing something that reflects the gratitude I feel for the support and healthcare that have helped me reach this point.

This trip is about more than marking twenty years living with HIV. It’s a chance to bring everything I’ve learnt - about care, compassion, and recovery - back into action. To give something back to the communities still living with challenges I’ve been lucky enough to outlive.

What Will I Be Doing?

During my time in Zambia, I will be volunteering alongside local staff and community members on projects designed to improve lives and strengthen local communities.

Activities may include supporting community outreach programmes, education initiatives, healthcare-related projects, and practical development work identified by local organisations.

The exact work varies according to community needs and priorities, but the principle remains the same: supporting local people in ways that are useful, respectful and sustainable.

Alongside volunteering, I will be documenting the experience through blog posts, photographs and updates so supporters can follow the journey and see the impact of your support.

How you Can Help

There are several ways to support Positive Impact 20.