Youth initiative empowers communities with HIV and AIDS knowledge

CureCrew Connect (CCC), a youth-driven initiative under Impact Drivers NPO, collaborated with the Nhlanhla Tshabalala Foundation (NTF) to host an HIV and Aids learning event at Pimville Community Centre on October 3.

The event targeted young people aged between 16 and 35 and showcased the work done by Cure Research ambassadors.

The event forms part of a broader movement of young people in local communities taking charge of the narrative around HIV and Aids cure research on the continent.

Impact Drivers is an organisation that works with adolescent girls and boys around sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and empowerment through different programmes such as CCC.

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Simphiwe Mahlanyana, co-ordinator at CCC, shared that the initiative has been running for a year and that they have gone into communities to change the narrative and reduce stigma around HIV and Aids.

Nhlanhla Tshabalala from NTF said he was interested in the collaboration because the foundation focuses on educating communities, especially the youth. He added that since he is currently working on a programme that tackles HIV and Aids, the partnership would greatly benefit the community.

“This has been a nerve-wracking yet heartwarming experience, where I have seen our passionate ambassadors go into our communities and provide impactful information, especially about the research on the cure and everything related to the virus.

“We have been to the North West, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng, and we are leaving for Cape Town this month.

“What I have found is that the activities we have introduced ease community engagement – people are now more open and inquisitive,” said Mahlanyana.

Paradise Madlala from the HIV Pathogenesis Programme joined the session, providing insights into the science and research behind the cure.

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“We know that there is potential for a cure for the virus, and what we are doing is bringing information about the science behind it.

“We also know that some of our communities do not have access to resources, so we are essentially the bridge connecting them to useful information.

“We usually bring information straight from scientists and simplify it so that our communities can understand it,” said Uminathi Magoai, an HIV cure research ambassador from CCC.

“Her colleague, Eden Barnes, added that there are many updates regarding the virus and potential cures, but not enough people to share this information with communities.

She concluded by saying that she hopes today’s workshop will ensure that the youth in attendance leave with greater knowledge about HIV and the ongoing research into finding a cure.

The session ended with a question-and-answer segment, allowing community members and ambassadors to engage and exchange ideas.