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AIDS was first discovered over 25 years ago. Yet today, 6,800 people will be infected with HIV. Of the 2.5 million people infected yearly, young people ages 15-24 account for 40 percent of new infections. Poverty, unemployment, a lack of education, sexual violence and gender inequality increase the vulnerability of young people to HIV infection.
11.4 million children and adolescents have been orphaned by AIDS and are now heads of households, as we lose an entire generation of parents, teachers, workers and doctors in many regions. Although world leaders committed that by 2005, 90% of young people would know how to protect themselves from infection, currently in the hardest hit countries, currently less than 40% of young men and less than 36% of young women can correctly identify how to prevent HIV.
Despite the debilitating effects of AIDS, young leaders are taking action in their communities to prevent the spread of the disease and to address the devastating consequences of the pandemic. In fact, evidence shows that young people are most effective at changing the risk behaviors of their peers and at shaping a better future for themselves and their families.
The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) recognizes the potential of young leaders as the best force to address AIDS in their own communities, and empowers them with the knowledge, skills, resources and opportunities they need to scale up and expand their initiatives. GYCA links young leaders to mentors, funders, scholarships, information, training resources, and political advocacy opportunities to ensure that HIV interventions for young people are relevant and successful.
See what GYCA members are up to
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Voices from the Field
Check out what the Small Grants award winners have been up to -- read their blog!
GYCA and World AIDS DAY 2008!
On World AIDS Day – Dec 1, 2008 – people from all over the world will be participating in various events to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Read GYCA's press release here!
Be sure to check out our World AIDS Day 2008 webpage, too!
ICASA 2008: It's here!
The ICASA website has all the information that you will need about the Youth Programme of the 2008 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (Dakar, Senegal) and how to get involved.
New GYCA Publication!
GYCA is proud to release a new resource, Living Positively: Young People Living with HIV and the Health Sector Response. This publication outlines the key questions and concerns that young people living with HIV have and offers recommendations for what the the health sector can do to respond to these issues.
Project Management E-Course
Keep your eyes out for the application for GYCA's Project Management e-course! The application period will begin on January 7.
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