Though most of its initiatives have failed to go as planned this year due to lack of funding, Jibilika Dance Trust has finally secured funding to kick start a new season of the award-winning, youth HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health awareness programme, Step Up 2 HIV.
The trust’s director, Nyaradzo Nhongonhema revealed that the new season will run for eight months with funding secured from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
“The programme will continue with renewed support from The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)’s DREAMS programme. It has been themed ‘Amplified’ and seeks to make louder noise and impact through its innovative youth culture model,” said Nhongonhema.
Step Up 2 HIV started in 2013 following the successful hosting of the Jibilika Dance Festival the previous year under the theme Step Up 2 HIV. The initiative went on to impact on thousands of youths in four provincial towns of Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo and Masvingo. In 2013 the project won an award at the Zim Hip Hop Awards for the Best social impact.
She continued, “Step Up 2 HIV programme empowers young people with knowledge, tools and opportunity to use their own art, media and ideas as a way to empower their voices for an AIDS free generation. It has a bias towards adolescent girls and women. Step Up 2 HIV Amplified will be expanding into rural communities unlike in the past where the programme was active in the cities.”
Jibilika will be partnering with other PEPFAR supported oganisations such as AFRICAID, FACT, OPHID, SAFAIDS, ITECH, WEI and ZACH in implementing the program in Makoni, Chipinge, Mutare, Mazowe, Gweru and Bulawayo. Whilst Jibilika will use its creative appeal to mobilise and engage young people the implementing partners will be providing various services such as counselling, testing, male circumcision and related services.
The Step Up 2 HIV project mobilizes and engages young people through popular youth music and dance in HIV prevention, Sexual Reproductive Health, Gender, Drug abuse and advocacy campaigns in schools and communities.
