Produced in partnership with American Jewish World Service.

Dayanara came out as transgender when she was a teenager. Ostracized by her family and thrown out of her home, she turned to sex work to support herself financially.

She lived on the streets for years, developed a drug addiction and ended up in prison, where she was raped repeatedly.

After Dayanara was released, she learned about the Association for Transgender Nicaraguans (ANIT), an organization supported by American Jewish World Service that advocates for the rights of trans women—people like Dayanara who have been viewed by society as men but understand themselves to be women.

Dayanara connected with ANIT’s leaders who encouraged her to get tested for HIV. After learning that she tested positive, she made a commitment to turn her life around.

Now at 29, Dayanara is finishing her high school degree and is one of ANIT’s community leaders. Together with other activists, she is working to increase access to legal justice for transgender people who have been victims of violence. She also conducts trainings with health providers and police officers to equip them with the knowledge and skills to end discrimination against LGBT Nicaraguans.

Directed and Produced by Evan Abramson and Carmen Elsa Lopez
Edited by Evan Abramson and Carmen Elsa Lopez
Cinematography by Evan Abramson
Commissioned by American Jewish World Service

Learn more: webelieve.ajws.org