This initiative uses the internet - along with digital tools such as digital recording and artistic re-mixing - to enable young people worldwide to express their creative thoughts about HIV/AIDS. The intention is to engage them in play (in the form of a game) to get them involved in this issue and to connect them with their peers who live in and come from very different places.

Visitors to the Youth Creating and Communicating on HIV/AIDS site are invited to log in to a special section of the site to begin playing the game. The first stage of the process focuses on stimulating information-seeking behaviour. Participants begin by taking a quiz on HIV/AIDS, which is designed to help them realise how much they know or don't know and to engage them by arousing their curiosity about the game. This process is also designed to interest them in pursuing the resources provided on the website, which include descriptions and links to further online information grouped into the following categories: Who am I?, What is HIV/AIDS?, Others and me, How am I at risk?, and Living with HIV/AIDS.

After this brief quiz, players are automatically guided to a page displaying a variety of visual images and symbols related to HIV/AIDS. In order to enhance their interest and understanding of the issues, they are asked to create their own representative logo or symbol (like the red ribbon) to serve as a personal signature for their following creations and as a symbolic support for those living with HIV. Participants then produce at least 5 digital art pieces (e.g., photographs), with tools available free for download on the site; tutorials and technical support are provided. These pieces of art are meant to express their reflections on the specific HIV/AIDS-related topics they have chosen. The creative pieces are saved on a sound/image bank with a title in the form of a question. It is possible for non-participants to view some of this artwork, called "triptychs", on the website.

From that point in the game forward, interaction and collaboration are stressed. The player is asked to continue the game by selecting 3 creative pieces of others and reacting to these works with an illustrated answer, which is given a title in the form of a new progressive question and saved on a different sound/image bank. From that bank, each player selects a single digital art piece accompanied by a question and makes a final composition of an illustrated work of answer. The final creation is a collaborative triptych, based on a sequence of illustrated questions/answers; the strategy here involves trying to foster intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. The next step is to appreciate other art pieces and select the best creation. Based on this shared creative experience, participants discuss the pieces with others in a dedicated forum on the website. The idea here is to provide a platform for exchanging ideas about HIV/AIDS.

The creations that win the most comments in each topic are displayed in various publications and at international youth forums and digital arts events around the world.

Youth, HIV/AIDS.

Youth Creating and Communicating on HIV/AIDS is one of UNESCO's Youth Digital Creators programmes; other topics focus on water and urbanisation. Using creative artistic software with an open, interdisciplinary approach to knowledge, it is hoped, young people will create - and discuss - a series of textual, musical, visual, or/and multimedia materials. Virtual and live exhibitions and concerts will also be organised.