As a UN Volunteer, it's in Fatima Diang's mandate to encourage volunteerism in the communities she works with. At the Port Loko health centre, she and WFP work with two volunteer-involving organizations: the HIV/AIDS Support and Care Association (ASCA) and HIV/AIDS Stigma Reduction Association (ASRA).

Volunteer groups such as these need more than just goodwill, however. As the Head of the WFP Sub Office, UN Volunteer Fatima Daing plays a part by helping to keep the vulnerable people fed.

To view the slide show in full screen mode, click box below and click again the 'expand' icon in the bottom right corner. Then click 'show info' in the top right to view captions. You can adjust the speed of the slides by clicking 'options' and choosing 'slow', 'medium' or' fast'. The people depicted gave their permission for their images to be published.

1.    As a UN Volunteer, it's in Fatima Diang's mandate to encourage volunteerism in the communities she works with. At the Port Loko health centre, she and WFP work with two volunteer-involving organizations: the HIV/AIDS Support and Care Association (ASCA) and HIV/AIDS Stigma Reduction Association (ASRA).

2.    Volunteer groups such as these need more than just goodwill, however. As the Head of the WFP Sub Office, UN Volunteer Fatima Daing plays a part by helping to keep the vulnerable people fed. “We support them by providing dry food rations,” explains the Sudanese national. "For households where there is a Person Living with HIV, we provide food for five family members. That aids nutrition in situations where people are too sick or too busy caring for a family member to earn income themselves."

3.    My name is Tiansu Kamara. 

At first, it started with headaches and fever. I went to the doctor and he had no cure. I went to the clinic and they sent me here. I began receiving treatment, so that at least my child would not be affected.

I have so many support from ASRA and WFP. Only a few of us get this support. But I feel I am not alone. I hear encouraging words. It helps.

I want to inform people that if they get HIV, it's not like any other disease. But other people can help. Indeed, if you are told you are infected, you should not feel stigmatized. There are ways out. Even when I was almost at the point of death, I attended the meetings and heard stories about how people coped. And from that I learned how to cope myself.

4.    My name is Musa Bangura.

I was sick nearly five years. But I had no way to know exactly what was wrong. I went as far as Guinea, and stayed for six months trying to find a cure. But I could only find traditional medicines.

I came back and was admitted to hospital, and they gave me some drugs, but the next day I was paralyzed. It was like my hands and feet were not there, cramps in all my joints.

The chairwoman of ACSA came, and I explained. They tested me for HIV, and gave me the right treatment and counselling. It helped a lot to meet others like me.

5.    I felt myself improving gradually, small-small. It felt strange at first, and I made a bit of a fuss and palaver. But with the food from WFP, I could see myself getting better.

I'm a motor mechanic, and now I'm able to work again after five years of not being able to do anything. I bless this office for helping me!

I'm continuing with the treatment. It's a lifelong thing. And I talk to others about it. When I was sick, I stayed at a village in the far north for two months and went back to visit after my treatment. I found someone with just the same illness as myself and directed her to come and get treatment. She's doing much better now.

6.    I am Asata Dunguia. I am 26 years old.

When I was pregnant, I came for a test. I was told I have HIV. From then they started giving me treatments.

They advised me that when the child was six months old I should stop breastfeeding her. It was very hard, but WFP and the other agencies gave me food. I thank God, because I was afraid about my daughter but she is fine.

I am attending meetings. I tell others, explain and advise others, even my mother and sisters. I do all I can do to prevent others from passing on HIV. That's all I can do.

I was invited to a skills training run by WFP. After this I was able to make soap, and I'm selling the finished product.

7.    "Being a UN Volunteer is a great feeling," concludes Fatima Daing, who comes from Sudan. "When you help people over some hurdles, even it’s not physically, you feel you can make a significant difference in the lives of these people. This is the pleasure that comes from being a volunteer."