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United via live satellite, youngsters throughout the world dance to remind world leaders to uphold the Millennium Development Goals. Ultimately, it allows youth to realise the ‘power’ they have in raising their voices to stop HIV and AIDS and be counted!
Supporting the South African leg of this event in Durban is one of South Africa’s favourite bands - Jamali, currently in the limelight with its power-pop version of Abba’s evergreen hit, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing you’. Surprised? Well so were Mariechan, Liezl and Jacqui when presented with the opportunity to record the song. “We had to confess that we had never heard the original, which I guess must have something to do with our age,” Mariechan confesses. “But when those first notes came in we were blown away and knew that this was a song that we could make our own.”
Tops
In a bid to give Dance4Life youth a chance to guide the Event programme, some 1 000 surveys were sent out, asking the youth to list their favourite music genre and artists. “We are delighted to hear that after distributing the questionnaires amongst the youth; our fan base, Jamali came up as a firm favourite and we promise not to let our fans down on the day; especially since we will also be promoting our new album, ‘3rd Base’, says Liezl.
Taking action
The dynamic Dance4Life Event, a global initiative which takes place every two years, actively encourages young people to take action themselves and learn about HIV and AIDS in a funky, breathtaking and moving way.
Employing an interactive ‘edutainment’ and communication platform, Dance4Life endorses a participatory teaching method, which incorporates drumming, dancing, music and other creative techniques to actively engage youth in issues around adolescent sexual health, including HIV-prevention.
Dance4Life empowers young people to make informed sexual health decisions for their futures.
Introduced to South African youth in 2004 and aligned to the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan for 2007-2011, the programme focuses on facilitator- led communication on HIV prevention and better sexual health – while their approach covers aspects of popular youth culture from media, icons, language and music, to dance!
“During the Schools4Life Programme, youth learn to embrace the life skills they need to protect themselves from HIV and at the same time, are educated enough to share this information with their peers,” Communications & Media Manager, Marlijn van Berne said.
By 2014, Dance4Life aims to have one million Agents of Change around the world, to ensure that world leaders uphold their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals. “This visible youth platform will be a force to be reckoned with. This is an urgent call for governments to keep their promises and to take action” concludes van Berne.
Dance4Life activities are currently implemented in 5 schools in the Eastern Cape, 20 schools in the Western Cape and 30 schools in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2009 Dance4Life anticipates doubling the number of schools to 110,” says van Berne, adding that the programme is multi-cultural with content presented in isiXhosa, isiZulu, Afrikaans and English.”
Dance4Life in South Africa is supported by Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa, STOP AIDS Now! and the Coca Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF).
For information contact Dance4Life on Tel:+27 (0)31 2020555 or www.dance4lifesa.org.za |
