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After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
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Barcelona YouthForce Project - Global

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The YOUTHNET Program of Family Health International (FHI) and Advocates for Youth, in collaboration with many UN, USAID, and youth-run agencies, are leading a movement to increase the visibility of youth at the International AIDS Conference in Barcelona in July, 2002 called the Barcelona YouthForce. The goals of the Barcelona YouthForce are to raise the visibility of youth participants, youth voices, and youth issues at the Conference, and to encourage HIV organisations to make commitments to involving more youth at future events and working more closely with youth to ensure their partnership in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programmes and policies.
Communication Strategies
Activities of the Barcelona YouthForce will include:
  • Visibility Campaign, with the slogan " More Youth Voices = Fewer HIV Infections", which aims to raise awareness about the lack of youth participation in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and care. The tee-shirt and sticker campaign seeks to empower youth and adult allies to be visible and vocal in sessions at the conference, as well as in decision-making bodies in their communities, countries, and the global AIDS movement. The goal is to demonstrate the necessity of meaningful youth participation and leadership in developing effective HIV/AIDS interventions and policies. As part of the visibility campaign, the Barcelona YouthForce will hold a press conference and send out daily press releases about Barcelona YouthForce activities.
  • YouthForce Rally and Reception on July 7, 2002, which is intended only for youth ages 25 and under in attendance at the conference, and their adult allies. The purpose of this networking reception is to assist in welcoming and orienting youth to the conference, helping them to recognise the power they have collectively brought to the conference, and organising Internet-based activities for post-conference networking. In addition to a number of invited speakers, MTV Spain will help kick off the event.
  • Satellite Meeting: "Cutting Edge Issues in Youth and HIV in Developing Countries" on July 10, 2002. This interactive satellite meeting will provide conference participants with an update on youth-specific HIV/AIDS interventions in developing countries, including effective youth networking and advocacy strategies and youth-friendly voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services. Both youth and adult experts will speak on "best practices," as well as open the session up for small group discussion based on issue areas. Participants in these discussions will be asked to develop sets of recommendations for future implementation.
  • YouthForce Newsletter. Printed daily, this newsletter will update youth and adult allies on youth activities at the Conference and spread messages to youth colleagues not in attendance at the conference.
  • YouthForce Press Conference, which aims to encourage the media to pick up stories related to youth participation in HIV programmes and to highlight the Barcelona YouthForce's activities at Barcelona. In addition, daily press releases will keep the press abreast of youth-oriented Conference events.
  • Youth Networking, which seeks to enable youth activists to continue networking in the evenings by sharing strategies for ensuring stronger youth-adult partnerships around HIV/AIDS issues.
  • MTV Global Discussion Forum on HIV/AIDS, which will be filmed by MTV International.
  • Evening Fun. The Spanish Youth Council and Catalan Youth Council will host a night on the town for youth participants.
Development Issues
Youth, HIV/AIDS.
Key Points
UNAIDS estimates that approximately 50% of new HIV infections occur in youth aged 15 to 24 years old. The partners and sponsors of the Barcelona YouthForce believe that more youth voices will equal fewer new youth infections in the long term.
Sources

Letter sent from Hally Mahler to The Communication Initiative on May 29, 2002.