Success story: creating a space in the community!

Over 70 students at Government Higher

Secondary School in Kodaikkal, India, found it

very important that they had a space to meet

and talk about HIV and AIDS. So, these

determined young people spoke to community

leaders, seeking permission to allow their act4life

club to hold its regular meetings in a community

hall. They were successful! The club now has a

regular, safe place to hold its out of school youth

meetings and self help group sessions to talk

about HIV and AIDS in their community!

That's a big step forward! Congratulations!

2010 event: Wow!

26 countries held a dance4life event

in November 2010! Almost 50,000

agents4change, celebrating!

That's YOU guys!

So, from Zambia to Mexico and from

Nepal to Ireland, you stood up and

let your voices be heard. You have

the power to create change and

STOP HIV and AIDS!

Challenging stigma and taboo!

Following dance4life’s visit to their school, a drama group of 12 students

from Broadgreen International School in the UK, used their creativity and newly gained

knowledge about HIV to create a film called ‘HIV information’. And to take what they

had learnt to the general public, they went out into Liverpool city centre dressed all in

black with white masks, to raise some awareness. Holding placards displaying slogans

such as 'you can’t get HIV from shaking someone’s hand’; they invited the public to

challenge stigma and taboo, by, for example, shaking their hand. A great example of

encouraging change in your community!

Want to watch the film? Go to http://tinyurl.com/3opbfwk.

Meet

Zganga!

Did you know? dance4life is now in 27 countries! That

means that young people like you, all over

the world, have been inspired by the heart

connection tour, have been educated

about HIV and AIDS and Sexual Health

and Rights, and are now active in

spreading awareness and challenging

stigma and taboo.

Think about it: you are part of something

huge! YOU can make a difference in

creating a future without HIV and AIDS.

How cool i s that?

Competition time…. Do you have a story to share? Tell us what you and your friends

have been doing to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS! Not only will

your story feature in the next newsletter, but the most inspiring and

original story will also win a VERY cool dance4life t-shirt!

Send your story to me, Natasha (details at the bottom of this page)

OR hand in to your local dance4life contact.

Entries should be in before 10th June!

I look forward to hearing from you!

April 2011 - number 1

Zganga, 22 and from Zambia, is

currently one of the members of the

dance4life youth council.

Zganga was selected by Advocates

for Youth as Youth Reporter for the

year, and she has been travelling to

Washington, USA and Ethiopia to

advocate for young people’s rights.

Zganga has also been writing online

about her experiences, culture,

sexuality and what young people go

through. To read her blog, go to

http://tinyurl.com/3nclyoe.