OneVoice South Africa works to raise awareness and prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections through the following strategic approaches:

• designing and implementing age, gender, and culturally appropriate prevention programmes;
• combining education, information, and creative expression to engage young people;
• building involvement with parents/caregivers, families, peers, communities, schools, and workplaces;
• contributing to knowledge production through programme development, by conducting high quality monitoring and evaluation activities;
• raising public awareness by disseminating evidence and experience-based information to stakeholders; and
• creating a safe environment for young people’s voices to be heard.

OneVoice South Africa works with young people (13–19 years) through a Schools Programme which is being implemented in 74 schools across KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape provinces. According to the organisers, the Schools Programme has been developed within a South African context and focuses on life skills, sexual reproductive health, and HIV and AIDS issues, and is presented in creative and engaging ways, while helping young people address health issues affecting their lives. It is designed to help young people to learn how to take responsibility for their health, lifestyles, and futures, and also supports the government’s Life Orientation Module. More specifically, the programme is aligned with the HIV & AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection Strategic Plan for South Africa in terms of life skills, HIV prevention, and better sexual reproductive health in the 15-24 year age group.

From July until December 2009, the OneVoice South Africa school-based Life Skills programme will be implemented in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. At the same time, a new Schools Programme will be developed for 2010 and beyond. In the long term, OneVoice South Africa intends to expand into other provinces and expand their programme scope to include more young people from different age groups. Furthermore, meaningful participation of young people will become an integral part of the programme development and organisers anticipate creating a Youth Advisory Board to help guide and provide feedback on programmes.

Youth, HIV/AIDS.

OneVoice has worked in the HIV and AIDS prevention field as a non-governmental organisation for four and a half years (formerly as dance4life South Africa).

According to OneVoice South Africa, they are working with young people for the following reasons:

• most young people become sexually active between 13 and 24;
• most new infections are between 15 and 24, mainly among young women;
• young people’s minds are more receptive to creative and inclusive messaging; and
• young people are the future leaders and role models.