"We are not the sources of problems. We are the resources that are needed to solve them… You call us the future, but we are also the present." UNICEF: A World Fit for Us–a statement from the Children’s Forum to the Special Session
Former MuchMusic VJ Jennifer Hollett has taken her multi-media talents and signed on as the spokesperson for YouthCARE Canada. Jennifer went to Kenya in January of this year, and returned in April excited to share her experiences with youth across the country. Working with CARE Canada to create YouthCARE, Jennifer has travelled to over twenty high schools to talk to students about what life is like for African youth.
To do this effectively, she created three video segments which first profile Kenyan teens living in the slums of Nairobi. Despite their limited resources, they’re seen creating theatre groups in order to both act out scenes of self defense (as rape is so common in their communities) and educate their peers on HIV prevention. Dance troupes perform in the dusty streets in effort to inspire courage and tolerance.
The second stop is in the area west of the capital—where a high
percentage of the population lives with HIV/AIDS. Lastly Jennifer visits a refugee camp on the Somalia border where the viewer gets a sense of
the volatile situation and the plight of the refugees. During her presentation, she asks questions and gets feedback from young people on each video segment.
“I wanted to learn first hand what was going on,” explained Jennifer when vervegirl caught up with her at Woburn High School in Toronto. She’s been so impressed by the comments on what the Canadian teens observe in her presentation. “The young people who have seen the video segments are consistently amazed by the positive outlook many of the African teens have” she says. From her post-presentation discussions, Jennifer feels that high school students can see the parallels between their world and that of African youth.
Her call to action: “Whether it’s a local issue or a global cause, YouthCARE is about young people taking an active role in facilitating change. Canadian youth are in an enviable position! They have power and influence and really can make a difference by using their optimism, creativity and commitment.” AIDS2006: take action, share your knowledge, make a difference
The eyes of the world will be on Toronto this month with the 16th annual AIDS conference taking place August 13th-18th. With this year’s theme “Time to Deliver”, representatives from around the globe will come to share stories, research and resources. Although this may seem like a task best left to doctors and scientists, you can also make a difference at this year’s conference as students are encouraged to attend. You will learn more about HIV/AIDS, its effects on the planet, and connect with other teens who share your interest in making a difference. There are lectures, seminars and plenty of opportunities to meet and exchange information with everyone attending AIDS 2006.
Here’s a few facts:
• 12 million youth are living with HIV/AIDS (UNICEF)
• AIDS kills a child every minute (YouthAIDS)
• 14,000 youth contract HIV every day (YouthAIDS)
• 43 million people have HIV/AIDS (YouthAIDS)
The Toronto Youth Force is made up of several teen groups attending AIDS 2006. The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Taking IT Global, Family Health
International and United Nations Population Fund will be supporting the Toronto Youth Force. The Youth Force first began at the AIDS 2004 conference in Bangkok, Thailand and you can check out the www.aids2006.org to see how to get involved.
At AIDS 2006, Jennifer Hollett will be hosting an opening reception for youth as well as a fashion show where young people will create and model designs in response to HIV/AIDS. Want to get involved? Contact Jennifer via www.care.ca/youthcare or www.myspace.com/youthcare.
If you’re interested in having guest speakers come to your school this Fall then connect with Anne at YouthCARE Canada. Call 613.228.5680 or email her at annel[at]care.ca.
There is wide-spread concern about HIV/AIDS amoung Canadian youth. They over-whelming believe that not enough is being done to stop the spread…largely because governments do not regard this as a priority.
The War Child Canada Youth Opinion Poll, released April 2006
"In a conservative form I wanna ask you a few things before I conform
To the popular belief about where I was born
Are they still illin
still killin
Popin the corn How's the horn, how is the love wave in the ocean morn
How about the young do they still possess the poetry tongue
And do they still greet sincere like the depth of the lung
How is the nomad, did the herds graze well this year
From the news to what
I know the growing gap ain't clear"
K'naan—Blues for the Horn, from the album The Dusty Foot Philosopher. Lyrics by K’naan/Produced by BJazz
K’naan is a Somalia-born, Toronto-based artist who went to Kenya in 2004 to film his very first music video. The making of which will air on MTV soon!Other organizations making a difference:
AIDS Picture Change
Created by the Canadian Coalition on HIV/ AIDS and Youth in Africa, the photo exhibition is made up of photographs from eight Canadian photographers. Images are from Kenya, Ethiopia, India, Mozambique and Cambodia and highlights the global struggle with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Picture Change was launched December 1, 2005 (World AIDS Day) and is traveling to schools and public spaces, with its final show happening at AIDS 2006.
www.picturechange.ca
MAC Viva Glam
Originally created in 1994, MAC’s commitment to funding AIDS research started with model RuPaul and a unique shade of lipstick. Now five shades later, MAC has raised US$44 million for AIDS research through the power of lipstick and lipgloss sales. Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Shirley Manson, Lil Kim, KD Lang, Christina Aguilera, Linda Evangelista, Chloe Sevigny and Boy George have been the faces of Viva Glam. Last June MAC celebrated its 20th anniversary of Fashion Cares—an annual fundraiser for HIV/AIDS research. MAC’s Kids Helping Kids is an annual holiday fundraiser for pediatric
AIDS research.
www.macaidsfund.org
ALDO Fights AIDS
ALDO and YouthAIDS made an impact in 2005 with its Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil poster campaign. No doubt you’ve seen Avril Lavigne, Pink, John Mayer, Bow Wow, Ludacris and Brittany Murphy striking a pose in a magazine or on a billboard. Focused on raising awareness with youth about the continued spread of AIDS, Aldo has started selling empowerment tags to raise money for YouthAIDS, a charity devoted to prevention and education about AIDS.
www.youthaids-aldo.org
Schools Without Borders
Schools Without Borders is a youth-run organization that endevours to make education more accessible to all through leadership, community and volunteer programs in Brazil and Kenya. One of their charity links is with Aeroplan, whose program Beyond Miles allows Aeroplan members to donate their miles to select charities. Canadian youth (that’s YOU) can travel abroad with this program to further knowledge of the planet and gain hands-on experience.
www.schoolswithoutborders.com
www.aeroplan.com
