Feature story

Competition launched to find top social media and mobile phone projects for HIV prevention

30 June 2011

The Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation has launched a competition to develop social media and mobile phone projects for HIV prevention. The competition will reward innovative, start-up projects to show proof of concept and the potential for future scale up to make a real impact on the HIV epidemic.

"To be more efficient with the AIDS messaging we have to use the same language and the same communication platforms as our target audience,” said Ms Pinchuk, founder and chair of the foundation. “Our goal today is to make modern technologies work for HIV prevention. Our dream is a future where AIDS is only mentioned in the past tense."

The initiative offers opportunity to software developers, public health practitioners, HIV programme managers as well as mHealth and social media for health communications professionals to create innovative projects using social media and/or mobile phones for HIV prevention.

To be more efficient with the AIDS messaging, we have to use the same language and the same communication platforms as our target audience

Elena Pinchuk, founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation

Accepting applications from 30 June to 1 October 2011, projects applying for funding should be either youth-led or have a youth focus, aim to prevent new HIV infections, raise awareness about HIV prevention and/or decrease stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. Winning projects will be awarded with full or partial funding up to 10,000 USD for the maximum implementation period of one year.

“Young people are in the forefront of the AIDS epidemic—both as those affected and those leading the social and behavioural changes that will prevent HIV,” said Michael Bartos, Strategy team leader from UNAIDS. “The new era of social movements led by ‘digital natives’ will transform the AIDS response and this competition will help create its leading edge,” he added.

Applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of leading technology and HIV prevention experts including Chris Hughes, Executive Director of Jumo International, Inc and a co-founder of Facebook, Garth Japhet, CEO of Heartlines, member of the High Level Commission Scientific Advisory Panel, Bill Roedy, former Chairman and Chief Executive, MTV Networks International, Debbie Rogers, Lead Strategist, Praekelt Foundation and Elena Pinchuk, founder and chair, Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation.

“Young people connect with each other through social media and mobile. As this is their primary means of communication, the next generation of HIV prevention must be through this, said Mr Roedy. “Let's help create the prevention revolution with this technology and go forward with the aim to have an AIDS free generation.”

Winners and amounts granted will be announced on 1 December, World AIDS Day 2011: www.antiaids.org, www.unaids.org  and http://www.hivpreventioncommission.com/ 

For more information about the competition and how to take part visit ANTIAIDS

The ANTIAIDS Foundation was founded by Elena Pinchuk in 2003 and is the first and the sole charity established with private funds against AIDS in Ukraine. The foundation operates at multiple levels—from national programs to direct support to individuals affected by the HIV epidemic. To find out more visit. www.antiaids.org.

The UNAIDS High Level Commission on HIV Prevention was launched on the 21 of July 2010 and includes more than 15 world renowned leaders. The Commission leads a global advocacy campaign to build broad support for effective HIV prevention programmes, and is co-chaired by Professor Francoise Barré-Sinoussi, Nobel Laureate in Medicine for her role in the discovery of HIV, and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Price Laureate. To find out more visit: http://www.hivpreventioncommission.com/