January-March 2009: Dance 4 life
Building an active youth movement for social change
The solution is here. HIV and AIDS can and will be stopped the moment young people have the power to stand up and say no to unsafe sex, change their attitudes and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS, and take action to become part of the solution- a solution for life.
Dance4Life connects with youth using dance, music, their peers, and with a language and spirit that inspires and unites them. Through positive, fun and powerful workshops Dance4Life helps youth break down taboos regarding sexuality and HIV and AIDS. Moreover, Dance4Life gives youth the skills and opportunity to take action themselves and will bring change to their friends, families and communities.
Inspiration. Empowerment. Action. These make Dance4Life a unique approach to stop HIV and AIDS worldwide. Reaching almost 500,000 youth in 20 countries since its start in 2004, Dance4Life is the only international organization that initiates and coordinates a global movement for youth to take action and stop the threat of HIV and AIDS. Dance4Life is “re-branding” the way we address the AIDS pandemic and builds an active movement of youth for social change!
Strategies for success
Dance4Life teams travel to schools bringing the following 4 upbeat and life changing activities to hundreds of thousands of youth in schools:
- Inspire
This is the first time most youths have an opportunity to talk and ask questions about sex in an open and safe way with their peers. The Dance4Life team brings music, drums, dance led by peer educators and young people living with HIV. - Empower
Skill building workshops are used to increase the knowledge and self-esteem of the youth. Although the focus is on sexuality, rights and HIV and AIDS, the youth also develop useful life skills. - Action!
One third of all youths who participated in previous Dance4Life activities go on to take action in ways they feel will stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. - Celebrate victory
Every two years an incredibly powerful and inspirational dance event is organized across the world for all those who have taken action to celebrate their work and victories.
Activities for 2009 and 2010
Dance4Life aims to continue the programmes in 20 countries and start programmes in 14 new countries. With these programmes Dance4Life aims to inspire and educate over 600,000 young people about HIV and AIDS and mobilize 200,000 new young.
Click here for more information about Dance4Life
Donate
We sincerely hope you will support the activities of Dance4Life by donating your Flying Blue Miles or money.