Campaign 2005/2006


An awareness programme fighting against stigma towards people affected by HIV/AIDS organised by Ithemba, together with Dessine l'Espoir and its South African counterpart Designing Hope Africa.

Campaign concept


Antidote

I love you, I love you plus or minus, that's life, that's love.
Plus or minus, more or less, positive or negative.
A Positive or Negative sign can not stop people from loving one another.
One can be loved, even with a positive status.
One can have lots of love to give and share, even being positive.
Protection is the only key to unlocking love, whatever one's status is.
A message for anyone, but incredibly needed in Africa.
An antidote to stigma, to dare to speak, to dare to love, to dare to live.

A peaceful & efficient fight against stigma

If access to treatment remains a major issue in Africa, many countries, even the most affected ones, have the ability to supply people with Anti-retroviral therapies. However, the stigma against testing and acknowledgement of a positive HIV status, is recognizably the greatest barrier:
the will and determination to get tested is drastically lacking.

Rather than having pressure from people demanding treatment, you have, on the contrary, unexploited resources, unused medication reserves, and millions of people who choose to remain unaware of their status.
Fear of exclusion is extremely high, even in countries like Swaziland, where HIV/AIDS is a national issue, affecting more than one-third of the population.

Many women are too afraid of asking their partner to wear a condom, even if they know that they are positive themselves
HIV positive status is very often linked in people's minds with an impossibility of rebuilding one's life with a steady partner. In a context of extreme social precariousness, women often have to support children and members of their extended family as well.

The attitude of the majority of the male population is reflected in their lack of concern for becoming infected or passing on the disease: low self-esteem, one among many interrelated factors, results in little desire to protect themselves or their partners.
Exclusion of a HIV-positive female partner is often considered as the easiest solution, even if it is obvious that the male partner had transmitted the virus in this relationship.

The message has been chosen as an affirmation for all men and women, to help them face the daily reality of a continent affected at an extreme level by the virus.
This message also has the strength to transcend cultural barriers and address the growing problem of decreased vigilance globally. In Europe and North America especially, where sophisticated therapies are available to almost anyone, and HIV/AIDS has the false image of a solved issue, this message is a reminder of the unfailing need not to forget that the threat of HIV/AIDS, and the prejudice, divisiveness and its potential to wreak havoc in any and all populations has not gone away.


Mobilisation of artists, musicians and personalities.



“I Love You Positive or Negative” is a two-years international campaign gathering multiple initiatives with a creative input.

For the third time this year, Dessine l’Espoir, Designing Hope French counterpart, renew the concept of a major event for World Aids Day.
After two years of creation and design in association with the world of fashion and haute couture,
Dessine l'Espoir this year mobilizes contemporary artists and musicians around the campaign message:.



Music for Life - Mobilization of 15 musicians

In order to sensibilize the public, pop stars have been asked to sign and personalize the message,
and bring their support to the campaign.
Véronique Sanson, Zazie, Alain Souchon, Laurent Voulzy, M, la Grande Sophie have already accepted to support the campaign.

Ithemba and Designing Hope Africa link up this initiative to a new project "Music4Life" started within a collective of women affected by HIV/AIDS in Soweto.
They create miniature guitars decorated with beads, made as broches reproduicing the musicians guitars. T-shirts carrying the same guitars are also handmade by the women.

These guitars and T-shirts will be distributed for World Aids Day, on the first of December.

Prototypes and original messages signed by the artists will be auctioned on the 22nd of November by Remy Le Fur at the Intercontinental Grand Hotel Paris to the exclusive profit of Dessine l'Espoir to fund its actions in Africa.

Johnny Clegg's message : "Nothing can beat love" & Chris stills' interpretation of the campaign's slogan.

More information on Music4life: www.ithemba.fr/music4life/indexeng.html

A project supported by: Intercontinental Grand Hotel Paris, Belgian Technical Cooperation, Fried freres, Creanog and Optimark.

Artists for Life - Opening of the project to 30 contemporary artists





Artworks from Anne-Catherine Becker-Echivard & Duncan Wylie.

Ithemba's local partner.

- Designing Hope Africa action

Psychological, therapeutical, nutritional support to people living with HIV/AIDS, together with awareness actions and fight against stygma towards people affected.

Support people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa, and get them access to treatments, medical care, psychological support, counselling, nutrition education.
Get people infected by HIV/AIDS access to improved living conditions with the virus, including reducing stigma from their community.
Initiate community actions to improve living conditions, hygiene, and reduce the side effects of the virus and protect the population from other diseases.
Create employment and empowerment opportunities for disadvantaged people in Southern Africa, especially people affected or infected by HIV/AIDS.
Encourage sustainable income generating activities.
These activities can be home based, to reinforce the family, or linked to support groups in a community setting, to encourage attendance at such groups.
Encourage creativity, cultural exchanges to support awareness campaigns, and to sensitize the community at large.