HIV/AIDS is a global crisis and young people, worldwide, are one of the most vulnerable groups. Within the youth population there is strong evidence that girls are particularly at risk. Although female vulnerability to HIV infection is now acknowledged, there are few research studies that focus specifically on issues of gender and youth in relation to HIV prevention.
We are a team of researchers (faculty and graduate students) working in several research sites and interested in participatory approaches to working with young people in relation to sexuality, HIV prevention and AIDS awareness.
In our work we have a number of projects and research studies. The overall goal of this work is to develop gender-based analyses of HIV/AIDS that can be used in prevention programs with youth. For further information on our projects, please contact us.
Check it OUT: Empower: Youth, Arts and Activism: An HIV/AIDS Activism Manual for Youth by Youth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEToronto, ON -- January 2009
Button-Making, Fashion, YouTube Projects, Film-Making, Safer Sex Organizing, and More!
The manual, Empower: Youth, Arts, and Activism, is designed for youth by youth, and features a diverse range of projects put forward by passionate, inspiring and fired-up individuals committed to social change. Each individual, group and project is committed to challenging social and structural issues around HIV and AIDS. From HIV positive youth fighting stigma to peer education projects and safer sex parties, this manual honours the work of communities creating spaces to talk about the issues that matter most. And, each project is accomplished with the use of art!
This youth, queer, and sex positive manual features work, interviews and hot tips from the following youth activists and program:
- Prise Positive Take, Montreal
- Fashioning Change, YouthCARE, Toronto
- sprOUT/Compass, Griffin Centre, North Toronto
- PhotoVoice and the Francophone Project, GAAP, Toronto
- The Sense Project: Head & Hands, Montreal
- No Pants No Problem! Safer Sex Party Organizing, from Montréal to Toronto
- Native Youth Sexual Health Network, Turtle Island
- Innovative HIV Prevention by Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP), Toronto
- Playing it Safe Project, YouthCO AIDS Society, Vancouver
- Visual Artist, Jenn Yee
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Partners of Empower: Youth, Arts, and Activism - An HIV/AIDS Arts Activism Manual for Youth by Youth
Youth Action Network (YAN)Gendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP)
Centre for Urban Health Initiatives (CUHI)
Printing of the manual has been generously supported by CATIE.
To order a FREE copy of the manual please visit the CATIE Ordering Centre at www.catie.ca after the launch. CATIE Centre Catalogue Number ATI-26158. Copies also available for download.
For more information about Empower, please visit www.empoweryouth.ca or contact Sarah Switzer, managing editor at sarah@empoweryouth.info.
