AIDS was first discovered over 25 years ago. Yet today, 6,800 people will be infected with HIV. Of the 2.5 million people infected yearly, young people ages 15-24 account for 40 percent of new infections. Poverty, unemployment, a lack of education, sexual violence and gender inequality increase the vulnerability of young people to HIV infection.
11.4 million children and adolescents have been orphaned by AIDS and are now heads of households, as we lose an entire generation of parents, teachers, workers and doctors in many regions. Although world leaders committed that by 2005, 90% of young people would know how to protect themselves from infection, currently in the hardest hit countries, currently less than 40% of young men and less than 36% of young women can correctly identify how to prevent HIV.
Despite the debilitating effects of AIDS, young leaders are taking action in their communities to prevent the spread of the disease and to address the devastating consequences of the pandemic. In fact, evidence shows that young people are most effective at changing the risk behaviors of their peers and at shaping a better future for themselves and their families.
The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) recognizes the potential of young leaders as the best force to address AIDS in their own communities, and empowers them with the knowledge, skills, resources and opportunities they need to scale up and expand their initiatives.
See what GYCA members are up to
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Click here to check out the Youth Awake! Newsletter.
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Small grant applications open!
Applications are due by September 14th for our Small Grants Program! Get the details here!
Take a look at the small grants blog to read about the progress of GYCA's first round of small grants winners and their projects!
Apply for the upcoming
Political Advocacy E-course!
Announcing the new Political Advocacy e-course beginning on Sept. 15! Applications will be accepted from Wed, Sept. 3 to Wed, Sept. 10.
Click HERE to download the application, or visit the e-course page for more information!
FAKE Conference Alert
We recently learned of a group inappropriately using the GYCA name and logo. They call themselves "Global Youth Coalition Association," and claim to be hosting a conference on human rights, religion, and world peace in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
We suspect this conference is FAKE and GYCA is NOT affiliated with this organization or conference at all.
Mexico YouthForce
GYCA was one of the main coordinating organizations of the Mexico City YouthForce for the recent XVII International AIDS Conference, "AIDS2008".
Read about it on the website link above!
Living Positively Merges
with Hopes Voice International!
Hope's Voice International (HVI) and the Living Positively network housed by GYCA have joined forces to form a vibrant, active, and progressive global network of young people living with HIV!
Click here to read the Press Release
Visit Does HIV Look Like Me?
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