The Alliance of Youth CEOs’ work on HIV and Young People Annual Meeting of the IATT on HIV and Young People 15 – 17 APRIL 2009 Andrea Núñez Argote, World YWCA Young Professional for 2009

Backgrounds The Alliance of Youth CEOs is made up of the Chief Executive Officers of the following Organisations: International Award Association (The Award) International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) World Alliance of YMCAs (YMCA) World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Organisation of the Scout Movement (Scouts) World YWCA

The Alliance Since 1996, the six organisations realised that their movements had great potential for joint advocacy work for and with young people. Currently, the Alliance, in partnership with UNICEF, runs a wide variety of programmes and initiatives to respond to youth and HIV.

Challenging youth The International Award is an exciting self-development programme available to all 14 to 25 year olds. The Programme has now spread to 126 countries. Over 6 million young people worldwide have taken up the Award challenge. The Award is about individual challenge, not about reaching specific standards set by someone else. Young people who participate in the Award: - Discover what they are made of - Make an impact on their community - Develop a set of life skills. - Most of all, they have fun!

Life skills for better living IFRC is a humanitarian organisation that exists to improve the situation of vulnerable people, providing assistance without discrimination and promoting humanitarian values. ICRC has been involved in the response to HIV and AIDS since the mid-1980s by: - Coordinating and supporting local efforts to reduce the spread of infection. - Providing essential care to the maximum number of PLHIV. - Advocating for the availability of all needed drugs including antiretrovirals. - Carrying out youth peer education initiatives in schools and in the community.

Forum for young activists The YMCA is a worldwide ecumenical, voluntary movement, for women and men, and especially young people. YMCA developed a global forum on HIV and AIDS with nearly 100 young people and HIV activists which seeks to empower youth and communities to work together in mobilising resources for HIV and AIDS programmes that are sustainable, community-based, gender-sensitive and youth-focused. Publications: - HIV and AIDS: The Initiative and Response of World YMCAs - Building Compassionate and Caring Communities: YMCA Strengthening Response to HIV and AIDS.

AIDS Badges for scouts WAGGGS provides dynamic, flexible, value-based non-formal education programmes, relevant to girls’ needs. WAGGGS focuses its response to the pandemic by tackling the root causes of HIV with education and awareness projects to help women and girls take control of their sexual health. ‘The AIDS Badge Curriculum’ is a programme where girls earn a badge by undertaking activities on prevention, stigma and discrimination, care and support. Publication: “Action on AIDS Booklet”

Media, youth and HIV Scouts contribute to developing young people’s full potential to help build a better and peaceful world of autonomous, supportive, responsible and committed persons, who play a constructive role in society locally, nationally and internationally. Scouts respond to HIV and AIDS through peer education programmes, awareness campaigns and activities, aiming to halt and reverse the spread of HIV. ‘Africa Scout Radio’ broadcasts programmes that educate communities on issues related to HIV and AIDS.

Young women leaders The purpose of the World YWCA is to develop the leadership and collective power of women and girls around the world, to achieve human rights, health, security, dignity, freedom, justice and peace. Young women in the YWCA movement are committed to fulfil the World YWCA goals. Through leadership activities, training centres, sex education programmes and other work in local communities, YWCAs around the world have built self esteem for women to negotiate safer sexual relationships, practice acceptance and inclusion, and provide support for caregivers, orphans and people living with HIV.

The Alliance: A common approach to youth issues Youth involvement, youth leadership and youth centred initiatives and activities Access to full information of reproductive health, sexuality and HIV Availability of safe and positive spaces for youth to explore and discuss the issues (i.e. girls only spaces or camps, boys spaces) and understanding and supporting accompaniment with adults Access to treatment, counselling and other services for HIV positive young people Advocacy (visible through the YWCA, but could be strengthened)

Recommendations to IATT/YP Continue to review the opportunity for effective participation of young people Ensure access to quality resources for youth-led initiatives and organisations Use modern technology and other means of communication that reaches young people Incorporate more youth diversity

THANK YOU!