UNICEF: Peer-to-peer education fights HIV/AIDS

On 3 April, the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign will launch its second stocktaking report on efforts to protect young people from HIV and AIDS. Here is one in a series of related stories. By Jean-Jacques Nduita OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, 1 April 2008 — Approximately 120000 children in Burkina Faso have lost a parent to HIV/AIDS. Among them, is Kiemde, 12, who lost his father two years ago. Now, he dedicates every weekend to teaching his classmates and friends how to protect themselves against the virus that took his father’s life. “I believe we young people need to be sufficiently informed about HIV/AIDS to better know how to avoid it,” said Kiemde. For the past year, Kiemde has led a peer-education programme to combat AIDS in Bissighin, on the outskirts of Ouagadougou. The club is sponsored by the African Youth Network Against AIDS, the youth arm of a UNICEF-supported non-governmental organization. In the past seven years, the national network has grown to nearly 2000 youth clubs. To read the full story, visit: www.unicef.org
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