Since 2012, our organization had been at the forefront of youth-focused initiatives aimed at supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing the multifaceted needs of young people in Nepal. Among the most pressing challenges was HIV/AIDS awareness, especially among youth, who are particularly vulnerable due to shorter relationships and potentially risky behaviors.
Despite some level of awareness about HIV prevention—65% of young women and 88% of young men were aware of basic prevention measures such as condom use—the comprehensive knowledge needed for effective prevention was still lacking. Only 16% of young women and 27% of young men in Nepal possessed a full understanding of HIV prevention methods. Addressing this knowledge gap was crucial in empowering youth to make informed decisions and combat the spread of HIV.
In response, our organization launched an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign that successfully engaged over 220,000 young people through both online and offline interventions across Nepal. We utilized digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to reach a broad audience, and our school outreach programs helped spread awareness directly to students. Encouraged by the success of our initial phase, we extended our campaign to Madhesh Province, focusing on young people and migrants, to further expand our impact.
Extension of Our Campaign to Madhesh Province
Madhesh Province presented unique challenges in combating HIV/AIDS due to factors such as cross-border migration, low health development indices (HDI of 0.44), and significant stigma around the disease. Migrant workers in the region, who often faced limited access to healthcare and engaged in high-risk behaviors, were particularly vulnerable to HIV. To address these challenges, we implemented a comprehensive extension of our HIV/AIDS awareness campaign targeting over 180,000 additional young people, including 1,600 from Madhesh Province.
Key Activities:
1. Digital Outreach Program:
- The Z Factor – Gen Z Content Creation Challenge: We introduced a content creation challenge that encouraged over 30,000 young people to participate in creating videos, graphics, and memes that promoted HIV awareness. Winners received cash prizes and campaign merchandise, helping amplify HIV prevention messages in an engaging and creative way.
- Weekly HIV Awareness Trivia: More than 25,000 participants joined our interactive trivia sessions on social media, learning about HIV through fun and educational activities such as crosswords and riddles.
- Collaboration with Content Creators: Partnering with influential Nepali content creators and popular social media platforms like Routine of Nepal Banda, our campaign reached over 100,000 young people. These collaborations helped disseminate accurate HIV prevention messages, counter misinformation, and promote positive behavioral change.
2. Community Outreach Program:
- Youth Educators for HIV/AIDS Awareness: We identified and trained 8 passionate youth educators from Madhesh Province, aged 18-24, to lead HIV prevention sessions in schools and youth clubs. These educators, who underwent comprehensive training in Kathmandu, were instrumental in educating 1,600 young people in their communities, dispelling myths, and reducing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
- HIV/AIDS Prevention Sessions: Our trained educators conducted interactive workshops using multimedia presentations and role-playing activities to engage students. These sessions equipped young people with the knowledge needed to protect themselves and others from HIV and promoted open discussions around the disease.
Results Achieved
- More than 180,000 youth were reached through social media with awareness-related messages and interactive quizzes, enhancing their knowledge of HIV prevention and treatment services.
- Over 1,600 young people in Madhesh Province were equipped with comprehensive HIV education, empowering them to prevent transmission and combat stigma through educational sessions in schools and local youth clubs.
- Strategic partnerships with content creators and media platforms like Meme Nepal and No Next Question expanded our reach and connected us with broader audiences.
- We developed engaging videos and multimedia content that resonated with young audiences, ensuring our HIV awareness messages were memorable and impactful.
Moving Forward: A Healthier and More Informed Generation
The extension of our HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in Madhesh Province allowed us to significantly expand our impact. By equipping young people with knowledge, addressing stigma, promoting community engagement, and collaborating with key stakeholders, we successfully drove meaningful change. Our goal remains clear: to involve more than 100,000 young people in building a healthier and more informed generation, free from the spread of HIV/AIDS.
