Youth Against AIDS

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Youth Against AIDS (YAA) was an international youth network founded in 1999 to raise visibility around the impact of HIV/AIDS on youth.

YAA was one of two youth partners who initiated the Youthforce [1], a self-sustaining international brand and umbrella under which youth from around the world partner with global stakeholders to raise their voice on HIV/AIDS. Each Youthforce creates its own identity and gives space to youth to be heard.

The highlight of the youthforce was an "MTV Ask the Leaders" session featuring former president Bill Clinton, actor Rupert Everett and Peter Piot of UNAIDS. One of the first sessions of its kind, it was broadcast worldwide as part of MTV's Staying Alive Campaign.

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[edit] Barcelona Youthforce, 2002 [2]

This was the beginning of the YouthForce movement. Barcelona Youthforce was a partnership between of Youth Against AIDS, Student Global AIDS Campaign with Family Health International and Advocates for Youth.[3]


[edit] Bangkok Youthforce 2004

This was a follow up to the Barcelona Youthforce.

[edit] Toronto Youthforce 2006

The culmination of the Youthforce efforts so far was in Toronto 2006, where the presence of youth was the highest to date.[4]

[edit] Visibility for Youth Advocates

YAA enlisted and raised visibility for representatives on over 30 countries. Most of those have proceeded to be the most visible activists on HIV/AIDS in their countries.

  • Yinka Jegede-Ekpe - Yinka, YAA's Nigeria Representative, was interviewed by YAA and Advocacy Project in 2001. Yinka proceeded to win the Reebok Human Rights award for her work.
  • Kabati Ishaya, also interviewed by YAA/Advocacynet in 2001, was featured in the film We will Not Die Like Dogs [5]

[edit] International advocacy

  • YAA wrote the Annex to Fourth World Youth Forum in Dakar, Senegal, 2001
  • Close Collaboration with Artists Against AIDS Worldwide
  • Student Global AIDS Campaign, Stop AIDS Campaign
  • Advocacy Campaign

Having served its intended goal as a catalyst to the creation of an international youth movement on HIV/AIDS, YAA's identity grandually gave way to the Youthforce and a new generation of youth with different concerns, yet all with needs for visibility. YAA as entity disbanded after the Bangkok AIDS Conference.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Youthforce
  2. ^ FHI - Barcelona Youth Force Newsletters
  3. ^ [www.fhi.org/.../barcelonayouthforce.doc]
  4. ^ AIDS 2006: Youth Site
  5. ^ [www.imdb.com/title/tt0476033/]