Promoting HIV prevention through music and dance

Change lies in the hands of young people. If the dynamics of the HIV
epidemic are really have to change, then it is imperative that this generation take a lead in HIV prevention and be encourage to be the voice for behavior change.

Reach and Teach campaign is a behavior change initiative which uses alternative artistic methods to reach and teach the youth about HIV/AIDS prevention through music and dance. It aims to use the emotional power of music and dance to energize, educate and promote safer lifestyle choices. As part of World Aids Day commemorative events, Youth of Choice Organization (YOC) has come up with an innovative concept to increase HIV prevention through an interactive dance competition that will feature local the Hip Hop dance crews showing some of the most amazing, intricate and off-the-wall moves anyone has ever seen. The event will take place at Winston Churchill, Pietermaritzburg on December 4 starting at 10.

When asked, Jabulani Myeza the founder of Youth of Choice, "our approach is to first engage and inspire before trying to educate. This is where so many programmes have failed as they try to educate an uninterested audience. We strongly believe that before providing
prevention information in an effective way the audience needs to be inspired in some way to want to engage with that information. This indeed is central to what Reach and Teach campaign aims to achieve – bringing prevention of HIV/AIDS in a positive way and inspire young
people to take actions around HIV/AIDS."

Groups interested taking part in the event must contact Cecil on 078 773 4513. Lots of prizes to be won. Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!