As a collective, calling ourselves Clin A’s (Clinical Associates) Against AIDS, we have taken a simple practical
approach targeted at our peers, and fellow custodians of tomorrow - YOUTH, that will highlight the concept we
want youth to adopt, by firstly addressing the need to know ones status and secondly driving for breaking the
silence (and stigma) around the disease through behavioural changes
. Discussion amongst ourselves established that the problem may not really be the lack of information to educate
and create awareness amongst our age group, but maybe the manner in which the information is availed to an
already information overloaded young person. As a group of concerned youth, we asked ourselves, “What then about our future when HIV /AIDS seems like a
cross-cutting issue that impacts on virtually all domains of life?” “How do we reverse HIV/AIDS being a threat
that will reverse many of the developmental gains that South Africa has achieved?” “How do we do so in a
‘today’ where trend surveys report that youth mention that the brands active in their youth circles are alcohol
promotions followed by cigarette brands⁵?”
As an elephant cannot be consumed by one mouthful, our first focus will is the youth we interact with on a daily,
our fellow WITS students. Initiating the Project on campus will serve to focus our efforts and also assist to glean
improvements that will serve to make our campaign more effective and informed if we elect to roll-it out to other tertiary institutions etc.
