Zimbabwe aims to raise HIV and AIDS awareness
07/01/2010
Despite ongoing problems with funding, a youth organisation has stated that it is confident it will continue to succeed raising awareness about HIV and AIDS among young people in Zimbabwe in 2010.
Awake Zimbabwe, which is based in Chitungwiza, aims to spread its health message among at-risk groups – namely youths living in high-density urban areas – through a mixture of music, dance, poetry and drama.
However, the organisation's founding director Tendai Maduwa has admitted that 2009 was a tough year, not least as a lack of funding meant they were unable to hire rehearsal spaces or buy computer equipment.
"Our organisation is not yet funded and this is holding back our progress,” the 21-year-old told the Zimbabwean.
"Currently, we only have the support of our parents and church pastors who help us with all the money needed for administration."
This news comes as the Zimbabwean government has announced plans to increase the number of people receiving anti retroviral treatments by around two-thirds over the next 12 months, according to Zim Online.
Written by Clare Devlin
