Artist reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS - Africa
Nearly 100 journalists, artists, poets, musicians, dancers,composers, filmmakers, documentary producers, writers, advertisers,photographers, and scriptwriters from all over Africa participated in the reversethe spread of HIV/AIDS project. This project was initiated by African artists and media experts in an effort to explored ways of transforming public attitudes to help reversethe spread of HIV/AIDS at a UNDP workshop in August 2003 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Communication Strategies
The participants came from Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland.Of the 42 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, 30million are in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNAIDS, and women account for58 per cent of those in the region living with the virus.Organized by the HIV/AIDS Group of UNDP's Bureau for DevelopmentPolicy, the workshop tapped into participants' expertise in producingcompelling images, icons and metaphors to influence public opinion.
It challenged them to use their skills to foster public dialogue on HIV/AIDS andbehaviour that fuels the epidemic. Participants created written, visual, and audio materials on HIV/AIDS themes during the workshop and made a commitment to promoting hope and transformation to achieve results.
Participants recognized the central role of arts and media inbringing about change at all levels of society. They also agreed on theneed to commit themselves to the core values and principles oftransformative leadership to help reverse the course of HIV/AIDS in theircountries.
It challenged them to use their skills to foster public dialogue on HIV/AIDS andbehaviour that fuels the epidemic. Participants created written, visual, and audio materials on HIV/AIDS themes during the workshop and made a commitment to promoting hope and transformation to achieve results.
Participants recognized the central role of arts and media inbringing about change at all levels of society. They also agreed on theneed to commit themselves to the core values and principles oftransformative leadership to help reverse the course of HIV/AIDS in theircountries.
Development Issues
HIV/AIDS
Key Points
The key aim was to generate positive and empowering images of women and people living with HIV/AIDS.
The participants said the workshop was about finding grounds for transformation at the individual level, and inventing artistic language to communicate and instill in others the meaning and importance of transformation.
"It is in arts and culture that our stories, icons and metaphors arecontained. Media and arts shape our values, attitudes and perception,"said Monica Sharma, UNDP HIV/AIDS team leader.
The organisers hoped that the workshop had offered creative opportunities to enhance people's understanding of the challenges ahead, especially as it pertains to achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The participants said the workshop was about finding grounds for transformation at the individual level, and inventing artistic language to communicate and instill in others the meaning and importance of transformation.
"It is in arts and culture that our stories, icons and metaphors arecontained. Media and arts shape our values, attitudes and perception,"said Monica Sharma, UNDP HIV/AIDS team leader.
The organisers hoped that the workshop had offered creative opportunities to enhance people's understanding of the challenges ahead, especially as it pertains to achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Partners
UNDP, USAID, UNAIDS
Sources
Gloria Coe, USAID sent an email to The Communication Initiative on September 11 2003
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