Preventative HIV/AIDS Education in South Africa

LauraSisaWeb, originally uploaded by Jerome Love.

Laura Van Netten with Sparrow Schools Psychologist Sisa Danisa. Sisa was instrumental in introducing the Youth United programme to Sparrow Schools – Auckland Park.


Youth United launches in a new school this week! Wednesday Youth United began working in Sparrow Schools – Auckland Park, near downtown Johannesburg. Youth Initiatives leader Laura Van Netten (pictured above) will be supplementing the schools Life Orientation class with preventative HIV/AIDS education. Throughout the presentations students will participate in forum-like discussions to follow-up on understanding, instill preventative action and promote open discussion. One of the problems surrounding HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa is cultural stigma. Victims of the virus are discouraged to disclose their status due to social repercussions like harassment, abuse and in some cases death. This in turns furthers the spread of the virus. By going into schools, VOX seeks to instill in students that HIV/AIDS can be easily avoided and those who are infected should be supported and not stigmatized.