- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan and Nafis Sadik Support GlobalInitiative Dance4Life

On the 29th of November, fifty thousand young people will make aworldwide statement against HIV and AIDS. Connected live via satellite, youngpeople in 19 countries will dance in unity and solidarity as ambassadors forDance4Life. These young people want to inspire companies, politicians,artists and media to join them in committing to push back the global spreadof HIV and AIDS.

Famous artists and DJs give up their time to perform during thisworldwide event. Tickets are not for sale. The young people, also known asAgents of Change, have earned their entrance ticket by actively committingthemselves to Dance4Life. By 2014, the year before the Millennium DevelopmentGoals must be realized, Dance4Life aims to have involved at least one millionAgents of Change.

The language of young people

More than 33 million people are living with HIV or AIDS. People under 25years old account for half of all new infections. Dance4Life involves thisyoung generation and raises their awareness of how they themselves can pushback the spread of HIV and AIDS. Dance4Life does this in schools with apersonal, interactive and emotional approach, using the language of youth,their media, icons, music and dance to connect with them.

Challenging taboos

Dance4Life empowers young people to take action themselves and tochallenge taboos around sex, HIV and AIDS. Inspired and informed during theschools projects, young people initiate their own prevention, awarenessraising and fundraising actions. For example, they fundraise for HIV and AIDSprojects, approach community leaders, write letters to politicians, organizeexhibitions or do volunteer work with HIV positive children.

Nineteen countries

Originating in the Netherlands, the initiative is now active in nineteencountries: Germany, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Russia,Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, UK, USA,Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

http:// www.dance4life.com

"Dance is freedom, dance is exhilaration, dance is life. Young peopledeserve care, protection, condoms. Please don't let them dance alone."Archbishop Desmond Tutu

SOURCE Dance4Life