Coca-Cola Joins Forces with Dance4Life Tanzania for World AIDS Day

February 4, 2008

Dance4life, an international youth movement which aims to empower young people in becoming "Agents of Change" in the fight against HIV/AIDS, nominated Student Partnership Worldwide (SPW) Tanzania to become the national concept owner. In line with this, SPW conducted a pilot study for a two-month period between October and December 2007 in preparation of a flagship program to be implemented in 2008. The aim of the project is to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, impart knowledge and transfer life skills, and introduce Dance4Life activities in a rural setting for the first time.

The study involved two major health festivals conducted in the rural Chunya District, Mbeya region and Dar es Salaam, targeting young people in and out of school. These festivals involved activities such as voluntary testing and counseling services, speeches from various local and international VIPs present and a sports league with prizes. In addition to this, a Dance4Life team comprised of 200 students from 15 different schools in the country, delivered a performance.

Through the workshops and health seminars at the festival, people recognized the importance of awareness and agreed on the need for this education. As a result 129 people were voluntarily tested. The events also marked collaboration between SPW and various stakeholders including government authorities (political and administrative), KIHUMBE, SHIDEPHA, PSI and Music May Day Tanzania (MMTZ).