JIBILIKA LAUNCHES STEP UP 2 HIV Project
Jibilika Dance Trust is back with a new, exciting project aimed at encouraging young people to confront tough social issues using urban the culture movements of hip hop and dancehall.
In partnership with the US Embassy-managed President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Jibilika has launched a youth HIV/AIDS awareness campaign called Step Up 2 HIV which will harness the power of media and art forms that appeal to young people.
The initiative uses popular youth culture as a medium to ‘step up’ the fight against HIV and AIDS. Through this initiative, young people will be given extensive exposure to materials and tools that enable them to live positively, become AIDS activists and peer educators in their homes, schools, and communities.
In a statement to Zimbo Jam, Jibilika founder, Plot Mhako highlighted the power of pop culture; “We acknowledge that popular culture has enormous power and influence on young people and the society in general. For example, Hip-Hop culture has evolved into a powerful phenomenon and can be convincingly argued to be the leading force within youth popular culture worldwide.
“In Zimbabwe, this culture represents a powerful movement with a new vibrancy and energy externally manifested through clothing, art, attitude, style, music, films, and language. Jibilika Dance Trust has decided to ride on the popularity of hip hop and dance hall music to engage youths in Sexual Reproductive Health Rights issues.”
The schedule of planned activities includes the production of Step up 2 HIV dance theatre performances in at least 10 schools around the Mbare (Arcadia, Waterfalls, Mbare) and High Glen (Glen –View, Glen – Norah, Highfield, Budiriro, Mufakose) districts. The performances will be on issues around HIV Prevention and Sexual Reproductive Health.
The idea is for the performances to stimulate discussions on HIV and AIDS, sex and most importantly, stir young people to step up the fight against HIV and AIDS.
A series of performances, training and workshops in schools will culminate in a schools festival where at least twenty schools are expected to participate.
Once every two months there will be a community event where young people will give performances carrying the message on HIV / AID, before discussion sessions on the issue.
The first such event will be on Saturday July 6 at the College of Music and will rotate from one neighbourhood to the other.
