Vocational schools in China provide an avenue for reaching thousands of young people with HIV/STI prevention messages. Credit: ILO

The Zhaoqing Vocational School in Guangdong, China, provides basic technical skills to several thousand migrant workers a year. It is also one of the first schools of its kind in the country to include information on sexuality, reproductive health and HIV in its core curriculum. This model has now been scaled up nationally with technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Many graduates from Zhaoqing’s school will find jobs along the province’s Pearl River Delta, which is the largest manufacturing zone in the world and employs over 60 million migrant workers from China’s rural areas. Before the students, who range in age from 14 to 19, enter the world of work, teachers are committed to imparting knowledge which will help protect them against frequent incidences of unwanted pregnancies and reportedly high rates of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV.

For many young people at the school the intervention seems to be working and they are reaping the benefits of greater openness and access to information. According to one female student, “At the beginning of HIV training I felt very nervous and shy. After the teacher's explanation I felt natural and accepted what she said. I felt I had known nothing about HIV… People with HIV are not dangerous and they don't deserve any discrimination.”

Vocational schools in China provide an avenue for reaching thousands of young people with HIV/STI prevention messages. Credit: ILO

Using the example of Zhaoqing and other similar schools, the ILO and the United States Department of Labor, (USDOL) have set out to reach as many of the 18 million students in the country’s 16,000 vocational schools as possible.

The ILO/USDOL project, known as SHARE (Strategic HIV/AIDS Responses in Enterprises), recognises that vocational schools are in a position to reach large
numbers of vulnerable young people with HIV, STI and reproductive health
training.  A survey of 1,602 female students from vocational schools in Anhui, for example, showed that nearly 12% said they had had sex and, among these, more than 60% reported pre-marriage pregnancies.

Based on this need, SHARE has established programmes in 1000 vocational schools and trained over 2000 teachers in delivering participatory training. The Chinese Ministry of Human Resources is supporting this effort with a national policy which requires all vocational schools under its authority to integrate STI, HIV and reproductive health training into the psychological health curriculum.

According to Richard Howard, ILO Chief Technical Advisor of the HIV/AIDS workplace education project in China, "It is estimated that with the capacity built
in the vocational schools, five million students will be reached in China over the next five years.”

The authorities in the country are very much aware that, despite early successes, the project needs careful monitoring and evaluation. “Challenges ahead include how to track the impact of this intervention,” says Zheng Dongliang, from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and National Project Director of the ILO/USDOL HIV/AIDS workplace project. He adds, "We can now assess how that knowledge has been transferred during examinations but our objective is to facilitate behaviour change and we are looking at ways to better monitor and evaluate the impact of the interventions to make sure we achieve positive behaviours among these vulnerable youth.”

In principle, sex education in Chinese schools was established in 1992. However, its implementation and effectiveness varies. Ms. Li Hua, a teacher at the Wuhu vocational school reports that “most often it is the teachers who are embarrassed to talk about sex with their students. The students are eager to learn and – when given the right space – talk openly about their experiences”. It is one of the objectives of this programme to equip teachers with the knowledge, the skills and tools to frankly discuss sexual and reproductive health issues in class.

“It is refreshing and encouraging to see teachers and students interact in a lively and imaginative way about rather private matters”, says Dr Bernhard Schwartländer, UNAIDS Country Coordinator in China. “Programmes like the one supported by ILO can serve as an excellent model to reach tens of millions of young people and their partners in China, right at the age when they are most prone to behaviours that put them at risk of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.”.

With arts and culture being pillars of the Jeux de la Francophonie, the Y-PEER network performed a dance and song written by its members about AIDS. Beirut, 28 September 2009. Credit: UNAIDS/Nabil

The UNFPA-supported Y-PEER initiative is a groundbreaking youth programme that raises HIV prevention awareness through street art, music and dance. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé had the opportunity this week to attend a dance performance by the Youth Peer Education Network during the Jeux de la Francophonie.

With arts and culture being one of the two pillars of the Jeux de la Francophonie, the Y-PEER network performed a dance and song written specifically by its members for these games. The lyrics include HIV prevention messages in Arabic, French and English, with the dancers forming a large red ribbon of red fabric at the end of the routine.

“UNAIDS and our Cosponsors are committed to including young people’s leadership as an integral part of national responses including empowering young people to prevent sexual and other transmission of HIV infection among their peers,” said Mr Sidibé.

“This evening’s performance was inspiring, putting these goals into action with young people creatively participating in the AIDS response in their own terms,” said Mr Sidibé after the show. “Culture and creative expression are powerful tools for mobilizing people of all ages and I applaud the Y-PEER.”

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé writes a message at the UNAIDS booth at Y-PEER event, Beirut, 28 September 2009. Credit: UNAIDS/Nabil

Y-PEER is a groundbreaking and comprehensive youth-to-youth initiative pioneered by UNFPA. The international network includes over 7000 young peer educators in Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East. The network has adopted an approach of “edutainment”—combining education and entertainment— to communicating HIV facts. Young people work together to raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health including the facts about sexually transmitted infection and HIV prevention.

The Lebanese Y-PEER network was launched in 2008 with the support of UNFPA and through 35 peer educators, the network has reached 1000 young people all over country in just three months.

With 7,400 new HIV infections daily worldwide and young people aged 15-24 accounting for 45% of these. 

The Jeux de la Francophonie brings together sport and culture to foster dialogue and understanding among French speaking nations. It will run in Beirut until 6 October, bringing together 70 countries from all over the world.

Jeux de la Francophonie opened in Beirut. Credit: UNAIDS/Nabil

The Jeux de la Francophonie (the Francophone Games) have been opened in Beirut by His Excellency Michel Suleiman, the President of Lebanon. The Jeux de la Francophonie is an event where sport and culture combine to foster dialogue and understanding among French speaking nations. The games are organized by a national organizing committee and the l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

“Through partnership change can happen,” said Mr Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “I am delighted that this year for the first time, UNAIDS is an official partner to the Jeux de la Francophonie. The OIF has shown leadership and a strong commitment to placing AIDS on the games’ agenda.”

Abdou Diouf, Secretary-General of La Francophonie addresses the opening ceremony
Credit: UNAIDS/Nabil

Observing the opening ceremony, Mr Sidibé noted the ability of the event to unify people all over the world. “The games, with their unique approach of merging sport and culture, have created a space for the open and respectful dialogue needed to challenge the taboos often surrounding issues pertaining to AIDS,” said Mr Sidibé.

Empowering young people to protect themselves from HIV is one of UNAIDS nine priority areas in the Outcome Framework 2009-2011.

In the Jeux de la Francophonie young athletes and artists of the French-speaking world are given an opportunity to meet through sporting and cultural events. The games have an ambition to foster dialogue and understanding among participants as well as spectators. It also aims to encourage young athletes and artist to contributing to international solidarity and gender equality, as well develop artistic exchanges between francophone countries.

"La Francophonie contre le sida - Francophone countries against AIDS"

Across the city of Beirut UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors Michael Ballack and Emmanuel Adebayor feature on 100 billboards with the powerful message “La Francophonie contre le sida” (Francophone countries against AIDS).
Credit: UNAIDS

In a joint campaign, across the city of Beirut UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors Michael Ballack and Emmanuel Adebayor feature on 100 billboards with the powerful message “La Francophonie contre le sida” (Francophone countries against AIDS). The UNAIDS logo along with other partners to the Games, is displayed by the organizing committee within the Chamoun stadium, visible to an expected 200, 000 spectators and 50 million people following the games via broadcasting. 

Through the partnership, UNAIDS aims to raise awareness on AIDS issues and to help inform young people how to protect themselves against HIV infection.

With 7,400 new HIV infections daily worldwide and young people aged 15-24 accounting for 45% of these, empowering young people and raising awareness of the epidemic is seen as a key to bring about change.

Running from the 27 September to 6 October, the Jeux de la Francophonie brings together 70 countries from all over the world.

The Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign has produced a short video on the importance of social protection for children

As leaders convene at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign, spearheaded by UNICEF and also supported by UNAIDS among other partners, is encouraging a discussion on the role of social protection for children and families affected by AIDS, families like Margaret Nyambura’s.

Ms Nyambura is nearly 70 and she doing her best to care for her five grandchildren in a small house outside Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Ranging in age from five to 14 years old, the children have lost their parents to AIDS-related illness. Making ends meet is a daily battle for Margaret, who does not have a job. Her family is close to destitution and can barely cover expenses for food, shelter and education. She is faced with competing priorities and few resources to deal with them.

Maureen Sakala lives in Lusaka, Zambia, with her mother, siblings and twelve orphaned children, including those of a brother who died of AIDS-related illness. Such families can benefit from increased social protection. Credit: UNICEF/NYHQ2009-0309/Nesbitt

Such a situation is common among impoverished families living in countries hard hit by AIDS. The epidemic can compound poverty when HIV-related needs are pitted against everyday needs, such as food, and long- term investments like education. It can pressure children into becoming breadwinners and caregivers before their time.

Evidence suggests that the current global financial crisis is exacerbating an already precarious situation for these families, who take on approximately 90% of the cost of caring for infected and affected children. There are a growing number of ‘Margarets’. The World Bank has already highlighted a decline in economic growth in the poorest nations  and predicts a drop in the remittances workers send home to their families this year.

UNICEF contends that the economic crisis makes the needs of the millions of children affected by HIV worldwide even more urgent. As Dr Rachel Yates, Senior Adviser on Children and HIV at UNICEF maintains, “the economic crisis has come on top of the existing food and AIDS crises that have already stretched families to the breaking point.” The situation also threatens to undermine children’s fundamental rights to health, survival and a decent standard of living.

As reported in a recent statement from UNICEF and a number of partners, social protection utilizes an array of actions to tackle vulnerability and exclusion. This form of protection enables countries to provide a range of options for safeguarding their most impoverished families against the impact of big, adverse events like a global recession or chronic illness. When it is tailored to the needs of children, this approach is known as ‘child-sensitive social protection’.

As described by Yates, "child-sensitive social protection including cash transfers and family support services has shown to be an effective way of protecting families and children in times of greatest need, including children worst affected by the AIDS epidemic."

Social transfers such as cash payments, pensions, and food stamps can put resources directly into the hands of those who need them most, and are one key component of social protection. For example, Britain’s Department for International Development has been working with UNICEF and the Kenyan government to arrange cash payments for Margaret and her grandchildren, and others like them.

But, as the joint statement also notes, poor and AIDS-affected families require help beyond social transfers alone, and a raft of diverse interventions, ranging from improved social services to supportive policies and laws, and from tackling stigma and discrimination to ensuring that children have the birth certificates they need to go to school, should also be available.

There is an increasing political consensus that strong social protection systems are required to buffer families and communities against the predations of poverty, lack of opportunity and vulnerability to the effects of AIDS. In April 2009, the G20 backed this approach. African Union leaders have also given their support. 

The Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign is calling on leaders at the Pittsburg summit to build on its earlier commitment to social protection -- and to make children a key part of it. It is hoped that world leaders come together to help children and their families and carers in developing countries cope with both the global economic crisis and the AIDS epidemic.

For Chris Desmond of the Harvard School of Public Health and a leading member of the Joint Learning Initiative for Children and AIDS (JLICA), of which UNICEF and UNAIDS are partners, social protection in hard economic times is not a luxury but a necessity:

“There’s always a benefit to social protection.  [It] is in many ways an investment in the future of a country… We need those resources, we need those human resources.  We shouldn’t see social protection in a negative sense, where we’re providing some sort of charitable relief to people.  We’re protecting the assets of our society – human resources are the fundamental assets of our society.”

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with Metro TeenAIDS (MTA), a community health organization in Washington, DC dedicated to supporting young people to overcome the impact of AIDS. Credit: UNAIDS/Jati Lindsay

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met yesterday with Metro TeenAIDS (MTA), a community health organization in Washington, DC dedicated to supporting young people to overcome the impact of AIDS.

Currently, 1% of young people ages 13-24 in Washington, DC are confirmed to be living with HIV.

Metro TeenAIDS is the leading youth organization in the Washington DC-metro area focusing all its efforts on the prevention, education, treatment and the unique needs of young people around HIV. Its mission is to prevent the spread of HIV, promote responsible decision making and improve the quality of life for young people living with or affected by HIV. Metro TeenAIDS also provides HIV counseling and testing services to young people. In the last three months alone, over six hundred youth have been tested at MTA.

During his visit, Mr Sidibé met with Mr. Adam Tenner, Executive Director of Metro TeenAIDS, Metro TeenAIDS staff, as well as some of its youth staff who work as peer-educators. Metro TeenAIDS staff gave Michel Sidibé a tour of the facilities, including its youth center Freestyle which is currently being renovated, and took part in a lively roundtable discussion on HIV prevention with youth.

Together, they discussed MTA’s innovative programming, varying from youth leadership and advocacy, text messaging, internet outreach, and other new media social marketing campaigns. One member of the staff, Carmel Pryor, discussed REALtalk DC, a social marketing campaign that has been extremely successful in the District and includes a texting service for free testing information and HIV education.

Some youth and staff had recently traveled to South Africa on a work trip and discussed their experiences. “South Africa looks a lot different from DC, but it’s really, really the same in terms of the scope of the issues and how it affects community” said Nicole Styles, Outreach Coordinator.

During his visit, Mr Sidibé met with Mr Adam Tenner, Executive Director of Metro TeenAIDS, as well as peer-educators working in the program and with youth benefiting from their services. Credit: UNAIDS/Jati Lindsay

With Washington DC having the highest HIV prevalence of any city in the US, at a striking ten times the national average, Mr Sidibé underlined the importance of the work undertaken by Metro TeenAIDS to expand access to youth-friendly health services. “Young people are our window of opportunity. What do we do to accompany them to stay HIV free?” asked Mr. Sidibe.

“The HIV epidemic in the U.S. is part of the global AIDS response” said Mr Sidibé highlighting the fact that young people aged 15-24 account for 45% of new infections worldwide. One of the key priority areas in the UNAIDS outcome framework is empowering young people, and Mr. Sidibé reaffirmed UNAIDS’ commitment to genuine participation of youth in expanding international response to HIV.

Established in 1988, the Metro TeenAIDS has provided education programs and prevention resources to over 200 000 young people, affected family members as well as youth workers in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Salman Ahmad performing at the IX International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), held in Bali, Indonesia from 9-13 August. Credit: UNAIDS/Donang Wahyu

Participants in a discussion on young people’s role in AIDS response at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) reached a clear and unanimous agreement: young people are essential to halting the spread of HIV.

“Young people need to be on board to turn the tide, as it is their decision-making over their bodies and their sexuality that will determine their future status,” said UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Salman Ahmad, a well-known rock star in South Asia, opening the first dialogue with young people at ICAAP’s Community Dialogue Space.

Co-chairing the event was James Chau, China Central Television (CCTV) talk show anchor from Beijing, who is also China’s UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador. “It is important that young people are empowered to participate and are given a seat in relevant forums and platforms to have their voice heard and be listened to.”

Under the theme “youth perspective on leaders' commitment about youth issues and involvement in the response”, the dialogue aimed at providing an opportunity for young people to discuss their roles in the AIDS response in Asia and the Pacific region.

Committed to advocating the involvement of youth in the AIDS response, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Salman Ahmad emphasized that this kind of dialogue allows young people to prove their commitment and help shape policies and views that incorporate and represent young people. “This, in turn, can be aided by networks and networking,” said Salman. “Connecting young people, sharing knowledge and experience, building strong and sustained relationships will assist individuals to stand up and be engaged, and show leaders and decision makers that young people can and will make a difference,” he added.

Officially opened on 10 August 2009, the Asia Pacific Village provided a place where delegates can celebrate diversity as well as carry out small group discussions, informal education activities, art and dance performances, and cultural shows.

Besides directly talking and sharing views with local young people, Salman also participated in the AIDS Ambassadors meeting held on August 9. Sharing his own experience regarding youth as a resource on HIV prevention, Salman emphasized young people’s role in campaigning and advocating for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. “The leading question is how to harness and engage the energy and idealism of young people.”

Hosted by Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia’s First Lady and National AIDS Ambassador, the AIDS Ambassadors and Champions Meeting aimed at addressing the need for leadership in the Asia and Pacific Region and the ways in which Ambassadors and Champions can have a greater effect in reducing the spread and impact of HIV. Promoting an agenda for youth was one of the objectives of this meeting.

As the lead singer and founding member of one South Asia's biggest rock bands "Junoon", Salman Admad became a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador in 2005 and has been assisting UNAIDS in its efforts to reverse the spread of HIV by raising awareness on AIDS issues.

Credit: UNAIDS/O.O'Hanlon

In general, HIV prevention services in the Asia region are currently not reaching young people who are most at risk of infection, which include those who inject drugs, who engage in unprotected male to male sex and those involved in sex work and their clients. In order to address this situation the Asia Pacific Regional UN Coordination Group on Most at Risk Young People hosted a symposium at the IX International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.

According to epidemic models presented in the 2008 AIDS in Asia Commission report, over 95% of all new HIV infections in the Asia region occur among such most at risk young populations. However, over 90% of resources for young people as a group are spent on low-risk youth, who represent less than 5% of infections.

Entitled "HIV prevention and most at risk young people", the event was sponsored jointly by UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNDP, WHO and is supported by 7Sisters, the Coalition of Asia Pacific Regional Networks on HIV/AIDS. It examined, among other issues, how the specific needs of most at risk young people should be addressed, what works and what doesn't and how partnerships between youth, NGOs and government can be strengthened.

The symposium discussed the nexus of unsafe sexual behaviours among most at risk young people where a number of such practices coexist in the same environment. Sex work, drug use and unprotected sex with multiple partners can all occur in the same social network. Therefore, participants looked at an approach which addresses a multiplicity of needs, meshing and coordinating previously implemented programmes and ensuring a youth-friendly approach.

A comprehensive, evidence-informed response, it was argued, requires firm commitment from donors and governments to address the specific needs of most at risk young people, and an examination of the contexts in which these risks occur. The engagement of this group in developing the policies, programmes and processes that directly affect and benefit them is seen as a prerequisite. Young people played an active and central role in this event as the practical aspect of exactly how to get youth involved in decision making was explored.

Specific objectives of the meeting also included promoting awareness among policy makers and programme planners on the urgent need for HIV prevention for most at risk young people and encouraging increased collection, analysis and use of data on this key group to support advocacy efforts and inform budget allocation priorities. Sharing experience of programming in this area, both positive and not so positive, was on the agenda too.

Among those taking part in the event were the UNFPA's Deputy Executive Director (Programme), Purnima Mane. UNESCO’s Jan de Lind van Wijngaarden, and UNICEF’s Margaret Sheehan spoke on behalf of the Asia Pacific Regional UN Coordination Group on Most at Risk Young People. James Chau, member of the AIDS2031 initiative, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador and Chinese television presenter facilitated the panel discussion. The panel also involved representatives of the medical profession, NGOs, health ministries and representatives of young people involved in sex work, drug use and male to male sex.

Ministers of Education and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean and other officials during the First Meeting of Ministers of Health and Education to stop HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mexico City, 1 August 2008.
Photo credit: agencialibrefoto

A year ago Latin America and the Caribbean Ministers pledged to provide comprehensive sex education in schools. The historic Prevention through education declaration was signed at the end of the First Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to prevent HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Ministers committed to promoting concrete actions for HIV prevention among young people in their countries by implementing sex education and sexual health promotion programmes.

The declaration noted that “Sexuality is an essential part of being human and it is expressed throughout ones lifetime. Childhood and adolescence are important periods for the development of people and their countries, and for this reason, it is necessary to provide quality education that includes comprehensive education on sexuality both as a human right, as well as one that contributes to present and future quality of life.”

The Ministers also committed to two specific targets:

1. By the year 2015, we will have reduced by 75% the number of schools that do not provide comprehensive sexuality education, of schools administered by the Ministries of Education.
2. By the year 2015, we will reduce by 50% the number of adolescents and young people who are not covered by health services that appropriately attend to their sexual and reproductive health needs.

The 1 August meeting took place in Mexico City and was co-hosted by Dr José Ángel Córdova Villalobos (México), Minister of Health and Lic. Josefina Vázquez Mota (Mexico), Minister of Public Education in collaboration with Canciller Patricia Espinosa Cantellano (México), Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The event led to renewed commitment to education to prevent HIV in both Latin America and the Caribbean regions. Thanks to the declaration a new agreement was signed earlier this year in San Jose by the Government of Costa Rica which will lead in the sharing of sexual health information among young people, aged 15 – 25 years in two provinces. The young leaders will provide education on a wide range of issues such as modes of HIV transmission and how to use a condom.

Dr César Nunez, UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America, points out that young people aged 15-24 accounted for 45% of all new HIV infections in 2007, however only 40% of young people aged 15-24 had accurate knowledge about HIV and transmission.

“Effective sexuality education can provide young people with age-appropriate, accurate and sensitive information equipping them to make informed decisions. Governments in Latin America and Caribbean are showing increasing leadership in this area.”

Thirty young leaders from around the world came together in Oslo June 23 - 25 for the

aids2031, in collaboration with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, hosted the Summit to promote and galvanize young leadership in the fight against AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

L to R: Heidi Larson, Executive Director aids2031, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. Credit: aids2031

"We are here to talk about the future- but more importantly we are here to make the future" said HRH Princess Mette-Marit in her opening remarks welcoming the young participants.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé addressed the forum as an Advisor Participant. “I believe that young people are the future, and offer my to support young leaders because they are a force for change in the future,” said Mr Sidibé.

UNAIDS has made empowering young people one of its priority areas as noted in Outcome Framework: Joint Action for Results

Thirty young leaders from around the world came together in Oslo June 23 - 25 for the 2009 aids2031 Young Leaders Summit. Credit: aids2031

UNAIDS calls for “putting young people’s leadership at the centre of national responses, providing rights-based sexual and reproductive health education and services and empowering young people to prevent sexual and other transmission of HIV infection among their peers.”

Before and during the three day Summit, over 30 young leaders from around the world worked together to identify pressing stigma and discrimination issues for young people and identify ways to leverage current strategies and collaborations. The event was designed by a youth-led planning committee and followed the first aids2031 Young Leader’s summit held at the Google Headquarters in California in 2008.

Young leaders reviewed the recommendations of aids2031's researchers, scientists, and practitioners for building a long-term response to AIDS. On the closing day of the Summit, they shared their recommendations on how to address youth AIDS issues for the aids2031 report, “An Agenda for the Future.”

They hope their recommendations for policy-makers, international institutions, the media, funders and other young people are considered, and called for their collective implementation.

Credit: UNAIDS 

UNAIDS welcomes four Youth Fellows who arrived this month in Geneva for the second round of the UNAIDS Special Youth Programme.

Remmy Malawa Shawa, Esther Ekechukwu, Rumbidzayi Masiyiwa and Tim Scully were among almost 1800 candidates who applied for this year’s programme. They will be with UNAIDS Geneva for 5 months and after their induction and an initial research assignment they will each be assigned to a specific team within the UNAIDS Secretariat. Subsequently they will continue their fellowship in the UNAIDS office of their country or region of origin for a further four months.

The objectives of the programme are:

1. To create opportunities at appropriate levels of the organization to engage youth in policy development and programming;
2. To help build the capacity of young people and strengthen their leadership skills to contribute to the AIDS response, especially at the country level;
3. To sensitize both the young people and UNAIDS staff on various modalities of working together to address issues related to HIV, particularly youth concerns, gender, GIPA and human rights.

Tim is from Malaysia and has experience as a Youth Outreach Manager, coordinating events and meetings for the MSM programmes at the Pink Triangle Foundation in Malaysia. He will be working with the Civil Society and Partnerships team.

Esther comes from Nigeria and has a Masters in Public Health from the University of Ibadan. She is a core volunteer for the Global Youth’s Action project for ActionAid in Nigeria and will be working with the Advocacy Team.

Rumbidzayi is from Zimbabwe and holds a BA in Social Science and Psychology. She has worked in Harare with the Community Working Group on Health as an intern within their Youth and Reproductive Health Programme. Rumbidzayi will be working with the Prevention Team.

Remmy is from Zambia and has just completed his studies at the University of Zambia, conducting academic research in Gender and Health. He has worked as a focal point in his home country for the Global Youth Coalition on AIDS (GYCA) and will be working with the Gender Team.