Ram Bahadur Bohara is an AHF client and a recipient of AHF Nepal’s Food for Health program. His story is next in our “I Am AHF” series featuring remarkable staff, clients, and partners who are doing what’s right to save lives everyday.
My name is Ram Bahadur Bohara, I am 42 years old, and I live in Kailari, Nepal with my wife, son, daughter, and daughter-in-law. My daily life revolves around my family and our goat farm. Coming from a poor family, I struggled to provide food and cover basic expenses. In search of better opportunities, I migrated to India, where I became infected with HIV. Returning to Nepal, my health was deteriorating, survival was difficult, and I worried deeply about my family’s future and the stigma in my community. Adjusting back into society was not easy, but I knew I had to stay strong and rebuild my life.
Receiving treatment at the Seti ART Center, an AHF collaborative site, has stabilized my health and restored my confidence. When I learned about AHF’s Food for Health initiative, which supports people living with HIV with nutrition, food security, and income-generating projects, I felt hopeful that I could rebuild my life.
I shared my plan to start a small goat farm with an AHF representative, and they supported 75% of the project cost. This allowed me to build a proper goat shed for 50 goats—something I could never have afforded alone. Goats are hardy, reproduce quickly, and there is good local demand, making the farm a sustainable livelihood. I had learned the basics of goat care as a child, and turning this skill into a proper business felt like a natural path to providing for my family.
The farm has already earned more than $465 from selling meat, helping cover my children’s education, clothing, and daily needs. Goat manure improves our vegetable farming, boosting food security and nutrition. Beyond finances, the project has given me hope, motivation, and pride in supporting my family and contributing to my community. I plan to expand into breeding high-quality goats and create jobs for unemployed people in my area.
I often share what I’ve learned with other AHF clients because I know the challenges of living with HIV. Regular ART and a positive mindset make life manageable. If my small initiative can change my life, it can help others too. Before, I could not see any future. Now, I see a bright one—my farm growing, my children thriving, and my family secure. While medicine strengthens our bodies, this project gives our lives purpose and alleviates the stress of poverty and HIV. It has treated the whole person’s life, not just the virus.
