Belize Youth Fest 2006 - HIV awareness event on World AIDS Day

This year for World AIDS Day, the Belize Red Cross (BRC) collaborated with UNICEF, XChange, the Ministry of Education, Youth for the Future, Belize City Council and the National Arts Development Foundation, along with many other NGOs and private enterprises, to present Youth Fest 2006, under the theme “Youth and AIDS in the 21st Century.  Move On…”. 

Youth Fest brought together young people from all over Belize for a day of HIV awareness and positive messages focused on combating the epidemic and moving past stigma and discrimination. 

Young people performed original dramatic pieces based on this theme, and were kept engaged in the activities of the day through these performances, as well as performances by local artists Supa G, Young C, Leela Vernon, and Heights of Vibes.

Members of BRC staff were part of the primary planning committee for Youth Fest since its inception, and integral in the success of the day. 

In addition, the BRC booth offered a number of activities to engage the young people and to help fulfil the goals of the Together We Can project. 

Red Cross youth volunteers asked trivia questions regarding HIV and AIDS, did face painting, and taught proper condom use to crowds of their peers throughout the day. 

Although the weather may have been against us, all those involved recognized the importance of the day and the event, and Youth Fest was a rousing success.

Acknowledgement is given to the following sponsors who made this year’s Youth Fest a reality: UNICEF, UNDP, Center for Disease Control, National AIDS Commission, Reach Caribbean, Hofius Store, Mirab & Company Ltd., Wellworth’s Store, Bowen and Bowen