An estimated 50% of people living with HIV/AIDS are among young people, they became infected from the ages of 15 and 24. Statistics in 2005 reveal that 30% of the 60million people living with HIV/AIDS are young people.
HIV has become one of the greatest challenges facing the world today.
As young people participating in the state, national and international response, we have been able to use different means to draw attention to the issues that are most important. Having identified young people as the most vulnerable group, who are part of the productive age of our society, a youth led coordinated response is needed
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has gone on for far too long because we are not doing all we can to stop it.
By “we” I mean our government, yes but I also mean you and me and everybody in this nation.
Working together, we can do something about this ruthless killer, which is why we are writing to you today. You can help reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people and save our productive age by making a special donation to RIV-NYNETHA for the hosting of the Rivers State Youth HIV/Aids Open Forum December 2007.
In recognition of young people’s responsibility in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, The Rivers State Chapter of the Youth Network on HIV/AIDS intends to drive a grassroots initiative where young people all over rural and water-logged communities in Rivers State will converge to discuss and strengthen youth participation in HIV/AIDS response and pave the way forward.
GOAL
The goal of the Rivers State Youth HIV/AIDS open forum is to integrate young people in Rivers State into HIV/AIDS State and National response.
Purpose
The purpose of the forum is to provide a platform for young people to reflect, share ideas and take actions to affect change.
Specific Objectives
To strengthen networking across the state among key community-based actors in the HIV/AIDS response.
To provide a platform for stake holders to make their commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Provide an avenue for sharing best practices, lessons learnt and challenges in youth-focused HIV/AIDS programming in the State.
Enhance young people’s capacity to make safer decision on their sexuality.
Strengthen youth participation in the state HIV/AIDS response efforts.
Device an action plan within a frame work that ensures young people’s access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support.
Build consensus on the mechanism for coordinating support and funding for HIV/AIDS programmes targeting young people.
METHODOLOGY
In order to achieve the desired objective, the forum shall be divided into three parts.
1. LIFE-SKILLS SECTION
This section is all about young people learning negotiation skills (NO IS NO) and entrepreneurial skills, sexuality and prevention, human rights, and the relationship between drug abuse and HIV.
2. RAISING AWARENESS
* Paper presentation
* Panel discussion
* Abstract presentation
* Capacity building
3. NETWORKING & EXPERIENCE SHARING
• Project exhibition
• Web collaborations
Free HIV/AIDS counseling and testing shall be conducted throughout the forum by Rhema Care Partners international and other CSO’S.
The Rivers State Youth HIV/AIDS open forum will span through five days with plenary keynote conversation, roundtable sessions, oral/poster presentations, and capacity building workshops, special panels, awards, rally, entertainment and web collaboration.
As you decide how much you will give to make the forum a reality, think of young people in the rural and water-logged communities who are out of intervention level migrating to the state capital with HIV.
Young people can still be leaders, instead of target!
This is a battle of our life; we hope and pray you will stand with us to fight it.
Yours truly,
RIV-NYNETHA
6 Njemanze Street,
Mile 1 Diobu, P.H
084-509136, 08039498547
www.nynetha.org
rivers@nynetha.org
