How much do you value life?
Think about it. You can put it any way you want, but life is beautiful. And that’s why I believe we have to protect it. The fact is HIV/AIDS is still one of the big threats that rob people from life and dreams and we can’t let this go by. Before you click away
from this page, let me tell you already that you CAN make a change. By pledging a donation -whatever size it may be- you can help us raise public awareness and train local young people in fighting against HIV/AIDS. We’re closer than ever to winning this fight,
but we need help from people like you to make our project a success!
The project
Designers Against AIDS will be holding workshops to train future activists and trainers in Bali from April the 15th till May the 21st, 2013. The workshop will focus in empowering
young people and trainers in the tourism/hospitality industry.
As the highest employer on the island and catering to over 2 million tourists a year, we hope to reach as many people as we can by focusing on this industry.The workshops will provide the participants
with adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS (modes of infection, treatments, rights and social behaviour) as well as efficient and effective campaigning and disseminating information to the public at large.
The workshops will culminate in the launch of an online platform, which will be a critical and sustainable tool for these safe sex trainers in further reaching out to other potential AIDS activists and the public, especially young people.
The current situation
With around 250 million inhabitants, the Republic of Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in the world and one of the countries with the fastest growing HIV infection rates in the world, with
an estimate of over 400.000 people living with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Bali is one of the provinces with the highest increase in HIV prevalence. Recently it is reported that an estimated one percent of pregnant women in Bali are infected with HIV/AIDS as are over
half (50%!) of all commercial sex workers. In 2010, 4.210 people in Bali were affected by HIV/AIDS.
Designers Against AIDS
DAA was founded in 2001 by Ninette Murk in memory of a close friend who lost his battle against AIDS and also as a response to media ambivalence towards HIV/AIDS and safer
sex practices, which meant younger generations were growing up with incomplete knowledge of the disease. Deciding to focus on those younger generations, the foundation took it upon itself to see how it could rejuvenate the message and truly communicate with
them. This resulted in developing creative campaigns using social media, which became popular and awareness projects with key fashion brands (H&M, Eastpak, MAC, Marc Jacobs...), musicians (Katy Perry, Rihanna, Pharell Wiliams, Yoko Ono...)
and other celebrities who have a young fan base to speak on behalf of DAA and instigate conversation around responsible sex and personal health.
At the end of 2010, Designers Against AIDS launched the International HIV/AIDS Awareness Education Center (IHAEC) in Antwerp, Belgium. A place where young students from all over the world
come to learn how to set up simple and effective HIV prevention and awareness programs. The students take this knowledge home, to replicate these campaigns in their countries of origin.
For the past three years, DAA has been supporting local charity Bali Kids (www.balikids.org). Bali Kids helps look after sick and orphaned children in Bali. Every year they reach out to more than
7000 disadvantaged children. Their work involves providing much needed health education and offering a wide range of medical services including expert treatment for children that are HIV+