Creating a worldwide movement against HIV/AIDS: a model for creating international youth activism.
Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10379)
Elliott RT, Taylor AR Global Justice / Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
Young people must not only be informed about HIV/AIDS but also be prepared to help fight against the global HIV/AIDS crisis. With the majority of new HIV cases occurring in youth ages 15-24, the millions of AIDS orphans worldwide, and the tenuous political and economic outlook of nations decimated by AIDS, young people must join the global health and social justice movement for the future of their own generation. In this session, we present a sustainable model of building an international network of youth HIV/AIDS activists. Over the last two years, the Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC) has mobilized together over 10,000 students from over 50 countries in education and political activism. Through the Adopt a project program, international conference participation, site visits in heavily affected regions, developing world field offices, global HIV/AIDS internship programs, and partner organization visits young people from the developed and developing world have linked to better their efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS. We present an evaluation of this model and successful strategies for building an integrated movement of young people in a diversity of cultural and economic settings. This presentation will provide the key skills and models necessary for young people in the developing and developed world to better link their work with each other. Audience members will have a better idea of programming linking worldwide youth and will receive suggestions for continuing this work in the future.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Organizations, Congresses, Evaluation Studies, Demography, Adolescent, Humans, organization & administration, education
