| |
 |
| Voluntary
Services Overseas (VSO) are involved in LoveLife,
a new style of project designed to tackle the alarming
rate of HIV/AIDS infection amongst young people.
LoveLife has a variety of partners including the
South African Department of Health and UNICEF, and
has involved a huge network of people in different
sectors of South African society such as schools,
radio and television stations. |
|
�Jon
Spaull/VSO
|
Unlike many other health awareness campaigns, LoveLife chooses
a more radical, 'in your face' style of campaign. LoveLife's
adverts on billboards across Johannesburg display slogans like,
"I had sex - will I die? From Siphiwe, aged 14" and each week,
LoveLife has a TV programme where teenagers film conversations
about sex. Also, young people can phone the LoveLife hotline
to discuss or ask questions about a wide range of topics such
as virginity, homosexuality, fertility and relationship problems.
LoveLife's focus on teenagers
and its campaign style are controversial in a country where
people are reluctant to talk about sex. But by encouraging
open talk about sexual behaviour, young South Africans are
becoming better informed about how to avoid infection from
HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and teenage
pregnancy.
The success of LoveLife
in South Africa is difficult to measure. However, given the
shocking current statistics of HIV/AIDS infection amongst
15-20 year olds here, the campaign is likely to raise awareness
in this age group, and help to reduce the number of victims
of the virus.
To find out more about
VSO's work to fight HIV/AIDS infection, visit their website:
www.vso.org.uk
[adapted from VSO's
quarterly magazine, Orbit, Summer 2000 edition]
|
|
