UNAIDS teamed up with Boiler Room—the world’s leading community of underground music fans—to promote ProTest HIV, a UNAIDS campaign that encourages young people to get tested for HIV.
A stellar line-up of artists, including Benjamin Bronfman, Joey Purps, Kindness, Grace Weber and Young Paris, performed live from Pioneer Works, a creative arts centre in New York, United States of America, in support of the campaign. During the live event, which was produced by DreamInc, long-time UNAIDS partner Housing Works was present to provide HIV testing, counselling and support.
To reach the end of the AIDS epidemic by 2030, a Fast-Track Target was set to greatly expand HIV testing and ensure that, by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status. Engaging new partners with a wide reach is paramount to making this target a reality.
ProTest HIV is a call to action to mobilize a new generation in the AIDS response. The initiative has been developed by young people from all over the world to promote HIV testing.
"It was very important for us to work with UNAIDS' ProTest HIV to inform our audience about the importance of knowing one’s HIV status. As Ndaba Mandela said during the show, "Charity work begins in your community", so I hope that we not only helped to raise awareness, but also inspired young people all over the world to get active themselves and influence those around them—may it be to get tested or for other activities that induce social change!"
Michail Stangl, Director Boiler Room
“As a creative educational centre for people young and old, Pioneer Works was pleased to open its doors in support of ProTest HIV. Pioneer Works is a safe space for open dialogues, unique collaborations and pushing boundaries—all very important ingredients to the success of this campaign and of ending AIDS.”
Dustin Yellin Founder, Pioneer Works
“We are proud to be part of this event. It was beautiful to see how the powerful performance of these artists and their call for HIV testing moved everyone who came out to Pioneer Works as well as the hundreds of thousands of young people all around the world who tuned in online. The initiative is an innovative way of reaching young people through Boiler Room’s unique reach and authenticity.”
Finn Martin Head of DreamInc
“ProTest HIV is a campaign that merges urban street culture with young people’s desire to want to do more in the world. We want people to get actively involved and to get tested for HIV. Stigma around HIV is still the main barrier for people to get tested and we need to change that by talking about it all the time and making it a normal thing to do.”
Kweku Mandela Co-Founder, Africa Rising
"During the ProTest HIV event, our team provided counselling, testing and referral to the Brooklyn community. Along with the testing, we also talked about prevention and the importance of accessing early treatment while highlighting how becoming virally suppressed contributes to ending AIDS.”
Johnny Guaylupo Housing Works
“If we want to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, we need to be bold. It is time to embrace innovative channels to convey our HIV messaging in a way that resonates with youth across the world. ProTest HIV was designed by and for young people with the aim of channelling the energy of technology, sports, culture and music to promote HIV testing everywhere.”
Frauke Joosten UNAIDS
