Africa Alive!

The overall strategy of Africa Alive! involved four key components:

• using popular culture, such as music, drama, and mass media to encourage youth involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS;
• identifying, promoting, and supporting role models for youth at every level of society;
• giving youth a direct voice in the media by submitting stories, postcards, and 'diaries' to media, and through community level action; and
• building sustainable, relevant, and supportive networks as the key to achieving these strategies.

Activities in each country varied, but included community theatre, puppetry, pen pal projects, television shows, road shows, and the establishment of youth centres. The following are some examples of activities from each country:

The Kenyan project had five main areas of activity: a puppetry project that reached youth in informal settlements around Nairobi; and a peer education programme which focused on participatory theatre, organised drama and inter-school debates; a post card project encouraging young people to share their experiences, stories and fears around HIV; a pen pal project connecting youth internationally; and a project developing role models and local heroes.

In Tanzania, the network initiated a volunteer internship programme in collaboration with Canadian Youth International; a peer education programme raising awareness of HIV/AIDS; and a rural young women's project that promoted gender equality among rural women; training in theatre, life saving skills, public speaking and home-based care for young people living with HIV/AIDS; and a youth centre that offered recreational and educational activities, cultural events, counselling services, and income-generating activities.

In Uganda, Africa Alive! also rolled out a puppetry programme that trained young people to engage in puppetry outreach programmes in their regions. In Zambia, the network held community-based road shows; hosted a postcard initiative similar to that in Kenya; produced music, drama, and a 4-episode musical/talk show TV programme featuring popular musicians; and the organisation of World AIDS Day concerts.

In Zambia, the project included road shows to promote awareness, mobilisation and youth involvement. The show reached over 60,000 youth through 8 shows in 6 districts. Zambia also ran the Postcards Initiative which promoted networking among young people in Zambia with young people in other African countries and in the USA. The campaign also included music, drama, quiz/competitions, condom demonstrations, question/answer sessions, and the distribution of materials. In addition, the campaign produced a four episode musical/talk show TV programme focusing on HIV/AIDS using popular musicians, known as X-plosion 2000 Special.

Regionally, the project produced a compilation of cards, letters and stories written by young people called "Youth Speak!" Africa Alive. It also produced a CD, created a website, and developed role model kits that included a training curriculum intended to build the capacity of musicians and athletes as role models for youth.

Currently, only Africa Alive! Kenya is still active. Africa Alive! Kenya is the National Concept Owners (NCO) of the Dance4Life concept in Kenya. Dance4life is a dynamic international initiative which actively involves young people and gives them a powerful voice in pushing back the spread of HIV/AIDS and the stigma and taboos that surround it. Young people are attracted through the use of experiential marketing, dance, music, youth icons and their own language, encouraging them to learn more about HIV and AIDS and Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR). They become involved with in-depth life skills programmes and other prevention and advocacy activities. By being actively involved these Agents of Change will reach a deeper level of understanding enabling them to make healthier choices.

HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health

An evaluation of the programmes impact conducted by Africa Alive! in Kenya found an increase in knowledge about HIV/AIDS, positive change in behavioural intent, an increase in age of sexual debut, and increased condom use.