For the 2009 ALDO Fights AIDS (AFA) campaign ALDO has pledged to help raise money to support YouthAIDS initiatives in South Africa.

Why South Africa? With 5.7 million HIV-infected individuals, South Africa is one of the countries most affected by HIV. About 1,000 new infections occur each day, and approximately 350,000 AIDS-related deaths occur annually. There are approximately 3.8 million children who have lost one or both parents.

Why YouthAIDS? In spite of these staggering statistics, there is hope. Infection rates among young people are declining and programmes such as YouthAIDS are making a real difference. YouthAIDS, an education and prevention programme of PSI, uses media, pop culture, music, theatre, and sports to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and reach 600 million young people in more than 60 countries with life-saving messages, products, services, and care.

YouthAIDS’ programme in South Africa is currently working in nine cities across the country. With more than 180 peer educators, the programme aims to create role models for healthy behaviour and influence group norms. Youth peer educators spread the message of responsible sexual behaviour through a variety of venues including debates at schools, parent-child workshops, street campaigns, community centres, transportation hubs, and radio talk shows.

Furthermore, YouthAIDS uses mobile promotion units or travelling road shows staffed with experienced and innovative promoters to reach young people in remote and rural areas in five of South Africa's provinces where prevention is needed most. The performances they stage combine music, film, and drama to attract large crowds of people. The shows combine entertainment and education in a fun and upbeat manner and are considered hip in areas where most people do not have access to televisions. The shows are often enhanced with the participation of well-known local celebrities including musicians and television stars, often drawing crowds in the hundreds.

The YouthAIDS programme reaches more than half a million young people every year with HIV/AIDS prevention messages and products. With funding from generous donors such as ALDO, YouthAIDS is able to continue its mission of reaching those most vulnerable with the message of hope and the gift of prevention.