Marketing HIV and Aids awareness is an industry unto itself and, it seems the higher the incidence of HIV infections, the more money is spent to spread the message of safe sex. Most of the messages are directed at youths but putting many messages out there doesn't mean that the message is getting through. In fact, we'd venture to say that many of those messages are lost in transmission or translation. But now, Youth for the Future says it has an HIV message that will work for at-risk youth. Why? Well it's in the language of the youth culture: dancehall and hip hop music. Manager for what's known as multi-sector approach project says that a new song produced by Youth for the Future and performed by Dan Man and Weesy Will hit the spot.
Douglas Hyde, Youth for the Future
"The area of utilizing our young Belizean artists in the area of music is a good approach and effort to get them to understand more about the idea of HIV and Aids and information. This video is focusing on the message of know the facts specifically on HIV and Aids.
Because over the past couple of years we recognize that music is a way of reaching our young persons, definitely the type of music used and stuff like that, we've realized that the Belizean young person with their techniques and skill can carry out this message instead of a preaching to them to try to educate them about the right information when it comes to HIV and Aids.
The area of music, specifically reggae music, has captured a lot of people and definitely Belize is no different when it comes to reggae music and this is a part of it mixed with hip-hop. And so we believe that it will get the message out to other young persons."
And we leave you on this Friday night with the world premiere of that video for the song "Know the Facts" by Dan Man and Weesy.
