From October 10 to November 2, 2025, Conscious Connections Nepal (CCN), with support from the Conscious Connections Foundation (CCF) and in partnership with Giving Face, organized a 10-day makeup training in Kalaiya Municipality, Bara District for transgender women and LGBTQI+ individuals, including those living with HIV. Please read our first post about the training here. Interviews were conducted during the training, and five stories were developed to document stories of resilience, discrimination, and hope. This is story #4, the story of Renu Manandhar.
Because of Renu Didi, I Am Alive Today
My Story, by Renu Manandhar
My name is Renu Manandhar. I’m 52 years old, from Birgunj. For five years, I’ve been working with the Blue Diamond Society, serving people living with HIV across Madhesh Province.
Most of my days are spent on the move — visiting homes, delivering antiretroviral (ARV) medicines, or counseling those too afraid to speak. The stigma here runs deep. Many people hide their condition, even from their families.
Photo Credit: Rohan Thapa, photographer
I know how heavy that silence can feel. My husband was once HIV positive and a drug user. He got infected through shared syringes. Back then, I didn’t understand what HIV meant — only that it changed everything. But I stayed. I helped him recover. I took my medication regularly.
Eighteen years later, we are still here — alive, stable, and hopeful. My husband drives an auto-rickshaw now. We’ve built a small, happy life from the pieces of what once felt broken.
When the USAID project ended, many things became harder — especially the shortage of condoms. Before, we used to distribute around 5,000 condoms every week in Kalaiya. Now the supply is limited, and the risk of transmission has increased. Still, we do what we can.
People in Bara and Parsa often call me Renu Didi. They say, “Because of Renu Didi, I am alive today.” Every time I hear those words, I remind myself why I began this journey — to turn pain into purpose.
Through my work, I’ve learned that healing is not just about medicine; it’s about compassion, dignity, and never giving up on people — no matter how broken they feel.