Feature Story

Nathan Bracken said: "By visiting projects
to raise AIDS awareness, hopefully we
can play a role in the ICC's partnership
with UNAIDS and UNICEF to reduce
stigma around HIV.

Nathan Bracken and Brad Hodge took time out of their preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 2007 to visit a project as part of the ICC’s work with UNAIDS and UNICEF to raise awareness on AIDS.

They visited the loveLife Orange Farm Y-Centre, part of South Africa's national HIV prevention program for youth, to meet young people who both volunteer and attend the project.

Nathan Bracken said: "By visiting projects to raise AIDS awareness, hopefully we can play a role in the ICC's partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF to reduce stigma around HIV. It is important that projects like loveLife provide opportunities for young people to make informed choices about the way they live their lives and help halt the spread of HIV.

"loveLife Y Centres provide hubs for regional networks of franchise holders, adolescent friendly clinics and outreach programs. They serve as best-practice sites for youth leadership development and adolescent clinical services; training venues for groundBREAKER and loveLifestyle programs; and provide trained facilitators to support the loveLife Games and other outreach programs.

Brad Hodge: "Sport is a great way of inspiring young people and teaching them skills which they can use in all areas of their life. It has been very moving to see how loveLife provides opportunities for young people to develop their confidence by taking part in a range of team sports."