Davi was 17 years old when he was sexually abused by his high school teacher, who threatened to tell people that Davi was gay if he complained. When he decided he couldn’t live with it any longer, Davi left his home and family and moved to Jakarta where he began selling sex. At 19, Davi met an HIV outreach worker who encouraged him to get tested for HIV.
When he found out his status, positive, it was a new beginning. He was determined that no other young person should go through the same experience. He became a member of YouthLEAD, and now coordinates a Young Key Populations network based in Asia, funded by the Robert Carr Network Fund (RCNF). With RCNF’s support, Davi has trained local health centres and outreach workers to better meet young people’s needs and now leads research about the impact of lack of HIV testing for under 18s in Indonesia.
Funds like RCNF are vital for young people, like Davi, who are at risk. However, these are currently severely under-funded, which means that for many, the story does not have such a happy ending.
Youth Stop AIDS is urging the UK government to double their contribution to the RCNF so that we can reach the UN goal to end AIDS by 2030.
RCNF specifically funds global civil society networks led by and working with Inadequately Served Populations (ISPs) that include: people living with HIV, sex workers, young people, people who use drugs and LGBT people.
RCNF funds global civil society networks to raise the voices of people like Davi to break down barriers to accessing HIV services. Grantees work to create more accessible HIV services and ensure the hardest to reach groups are supported.
Despite huge progress, AIDS is now a leading killer of adolescents globally & progress is beginning to slow.
Youth Stop AIDS’ It Ain’t Over campaign calls on the UK government to lead in making AIDS history.
We have been making good strides in putting HIV back on the agenda but now we need serious political will and increased funding from the UK Government to finish the job.
Complacency is a killer.
Die from AIDS-related causes every day.
UK Department for International Development’s (DFID) current funding for RCNF is £5m over three years but current funding runs out in March 2018.
Despite being regarded by the UK Government as effective and good value for money – RCNF is severely underfunded and able to fund only half of the quality proposals it receives.
Donor government funding for HIV is now at its lowest level since 2010. Yet UNAIDS predicts that all stakeholders need to increase funding by one third in order to reach the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending AIDS by 2030.
Increasing funding for RCNF now is a way for DFID to get back on track and demonstrate commitment to the global HIV response.
We’re calling on The Rtn Hon Alistair Burt MP and DFID to help write the next chapter in the HIV response by increasing funding for RCNF and committing £10m over the next three years.
The UK’s contribution will:
Demonstrate continued commitment to the global HIV response
Deliver on the UK Government’s promise to leave no-one behind
Support more young leaders, like Davi, working to ensure AIDS is consigned to the history books.
Take Action!
In February we’re hosting a month long journey around the UK, where you can hear first hand the inspiring stories of young people from the Global South & the UK overcoming the toughest hurdles to make a change.
Every year, the Speaker Tour supports one of our key campaign’s and this year we’re telling people It Ain’t Over. Youth Stop AIDS campaigners will use the Tour to call on the UK government to commit funding to the Robert Carr Fund. Our speakers’ powerful stories will show why the UK Governments needs to plug the gap and pledge £10 million for RCNF.
Meet the speakers and get your tickets here!
Social Media Pack
Click the icon to jump to our social media pack!
RCNF Story-Book
Click the icon to download our RCNF Campaign Story Book!
Social Media Pack
We’ve pulled together a full social media pack for you to share the word among your friends. It includes suggested posts and graphics for Facebook and Twitter.
Simply download it by hitting the button below or, alternatively, scroll down to the suggested tweets and share something instantly.
Suggested Tweets
Simply click on the tweet you like best to spread the word. If you’d like to add a graphic, we’ve suggested one you can take from our Social Media Pack below it.
[bctt tweet=”.@STOPAIDS review found @DFID_UK funding for HIV decreased by 22% in 3 years. An increased pledge of £10m to the #RobertCarrFund will help #PlugTheGap because #ItAintOver ” via=”no”]
Suggested Graphic: Funding Dropping
[bctt tweet=”The #RobertCarrFund is supporting key population networks to create accessible, human rights based #HIV services – but funding is about to run out. @DFID_UK please #PlugTheGap because #ItAintOver ” via=”no”]
Suggested Graphic: Sex Worker Consortium.
[bctt tweet=”#RobertCarrFund ensures we Leave No One Behind in the global #HIV response. @DFID_UK
#PlugTheGap and pledge £10m. #ItAintOver” via=”no”]
Suggested Graphic: SA Quote
[bctt tweet=”We can beat AIDS but #ItAintOver ” via=”no”]
Suggested Graphic: Don’t take your eye off the ball