My advice is: Get tested!
I discovered tuberculosis in Bubaque. I felt tired, my body ached and when I urinated the colour was yellow. My parents took me to Uno, an island far from Bubaque, and there I received traditional treatment.  But it didn't work. My parents took me to the health centre in Bubaque, where I tested positive for TB and I started treatment.  I am happy I started the treatment and I feel much better, and stronger, I sleep at night and I know I'm going to get better. 

Giovani José Bernardo,
Bubaque Health Centre

Being passionate about my work, I communicate precisely with patients so that they understand the essence of staying positive, eating healthy food, and being socially engaged in the fight against HIV.
I have learned that communication is the key to unlocking challenges linked with HIV.
I am confided by patients because I communicate with them throughout the process of prevention, testing, treatment, and viral load suppression.
Our networking communication with passionate, community leaders, and the regional health authorities has remained solid, hence a great deal of improvement in the system regarding HIV services from the homes to the health centre.

Victoria Pereira,
TCE Guinea Bissau

My community has changed a lot with the intervention of the health projects. Some years ago, most pregnant women did not attend health centres, especially for prenatal care, due to taboos, beliefs, and other customs, and some lacked economic resources.
I can testify that there is a sign of gradual changes in my community, although it is a long process.
I would like to ask you to take into account the project's implementation period, the longer it takes, the greater the impact with the in-depth understanding of the topics covered.

Cris Naifa, Gabu

I met this man at the makeshift testing centre in the community leader's house. Out of 41 people tested for HIV, four were positive, and he was one of those four. I offered my help, counselled him and asked him to start treatment. His wife had recently died. He resisted treatment, refused to admit the disease and considered a cure through drinking cashew beer.
Later, I returned to the community, and he was more downcast. He had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. I'm helping him with home care. He's started TB treatment and will later take ARVs.
I'm proud of my work and its positive impact. I know that I have contributed to this man's survival.

Feliciana Gomez Ca

I was awarded a scholarship to study horticulture and nutrition for six months at the ADPP Vocational School, Bissorã, donated by the project Nha Horta I Nha Sabura.
In the six-month program, I learned so many things from my teachers and my fellow students. I graduated and did a year internship in my community. I shared my knowledge in nutrition organic horticultural production and agroecology which improved our production with my community.

Cláude Sanha

My community has acquired a new mentality when it comes to vegetable production. The NHA HORTA I NHA SABURA project has taught us that vegetable production is an important activity for the community’s diet and families’ economies. It's another step we're taking towards our development.

Adelina Gomes

Our community has grown stronger since we were taught to invest in organic production. We've seen improvements in food and income. Families can pay for their children's education and health. This journey has benefited us with 0.4 hectares and a common goal to produce more.

Toia Agostinho Ernbana

Practical teaching in the most deprived regions of Guinea-Bissau is by far my best experience in these three years of training. We've learnt that as teachers we can make a difference, using everything we've learnt in theory to our advantage, regardless of the conditions we have at hand.

Gregório Augusto Gomes,
ADPP Teacher Training College, Bachil

We train every day to implement behavioural methods depending on the behaviour of the child we have in the classroom. Some are restless, others are calm, and others have special needs. I'm in my final year of the training and I believe I've gained a sense of the profession; I now know that we can't segregate children. They need to interact and learn from each other.

Bernardo Salvador Mendonça,
ADPP Teacher Training College, Bachil

Capacity building and soap production
I learned to produce natural soap called Nepani. It is soap with moringa, papaya and neem. I will take the knowledge to the community when I do my full-time teaching practice period and maybe create an association to start producing and selling the soap in support of the school.

Namiram Afonso Labar,
ADPP Teacher Training College, Bachil

Being a woman in this field of plumbing is a big challenge. I'll use all of today's practical and theoretical experiences in the future. To grow in life. My goal is to open a company dedicated to plumbing and run it with everything I've learnt.

Verónica Carlos Cá, Bissau,
ADPP Vocational School, Bissorã