Youth and HIV in Barbados

Problem statement

UNAIDS’ and UNFPA’s latest figures illustrate that half of the new HIV infections every day are among the under 25’s. As the single largest group infected and affected by the virus, a huge part of the potential solution lies with young people. That’s exactly why dance4life involves them. dance4life Barbados started in 2009, reaching the half of all schools in the country. When people in general think of Barbados, they think of palm trees and white beaches. But that is just the reality for the rich and famous (tourists). Barbados faces big challenges such as poverty, and extremely narrow resource base and an unsustainable high external debt. As the popular perception about Barbados does not match the reality, it is very difficult to get regional and international funding. There is also a high level of stigma and discrimination in Barbados around HIV and AIDS. Factors such as the small size of the island, complex family situations, social networks and conservatism make young people wary of becoming actively involved in programmes like dance4life. Despite these big challenges dance4life Barbados has been successful in reaching young people and inspiring them to participate. They want to go into new schools as well to reach other youth, and with this funding dance4life can train young people to go into the schools and inspire students, so that they can make informed choices and takes action themselves to push back HIV and AIDS

Goal

We want young people everywhere to be inspired to join dance4life, to participate in our schools programme and to take action to halt the spread of HIV and AIDS and improve young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. Youth who have gone through our schools programme and are active in their communities are called agents4change. dance4life offers agents4change ways to stay involved after having finished the schools programme. Their actions raise awareness, trigger other young people to become active in pushing back HIV and AIDS, strengthen the sexual and reproductive health and rights of themselves and others around them and ultimately draw them into a forceful youth movement with a positive voice. Our goal of 1 million agents4change leading the movement is a powerful symbol of this commitment.

Main activities

First, dance4life INSPIRES young people aged 13 to 19 to become involved. Our local tour teams travel to participating schools to INSPIRE young people through music, drums and dance. We promote an open discussion about HIV, which breaks down the stigma and taboos regarding sexuality and HIV. Young people living with HIV are part of the tour team and their stories from the heart of the performance. Once inspired to become part of dance4life, we EDUCATE young people about sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS. Skill building workshops are organised to increase their knowledge and self-esteem. They also learn the skills needed for better communication, negotiation, decision-making, leadership and entrepreneurship. All of which empowers them to make positive decisions about their futures. Equipped with these empowering skills, almost half of the young people we meet are motivated by dance4life to take ACTION. They change the way their family and friends view HIV and AIDS and make a positive change in their community. We call these young people AGENTS4CHANGE, as they are making a difference to the world. To CELEBRATE the achievements of the agents4change, a powerful global dance event is organised every two years on the Saturday before World AIDS Day. Only those young people who took action are invited to attend. United by one cause and connected live via satellite, they dance together to inspire and gain support from the rest of the world, and to remind the world leaders of the promises they made with the Millennium Development Goals.

External risks

NA

Budget breakdown