Vicious virus circle

HIV / AIDS is a global concern that we can't ignore.

• AIDS kills more people world-wide than any other infectious disease
• AIDS is the fourth biggest killer in Africa.
• Half of new infections are occurring in young people aged 15-24, constituting one-third of those living with HIV and AIDS world-wide.

Aim: To investigate the links between poverty and HIV/AIDS

What to do:

Below are 12 stages in a cycle that results in people dying of AIDS-related illnesses in the Third World. Copy them onto post-it notes and stick one on the back of each person in the group. Then get the group to organise themselves into a circle with all the stages in the right order (as shown below).

For groups of less than 12, write two statements onto some of the post-it notes to get the right number.

1. The government struggles to pay international debts
2. Government cut-backs in health and education
3. Not enough information campaigns about HIV
4. People don't learn how to protect themselves
5. People contract HIV having unprotected sex
6. Hospital can't afford treatments that slow the disease
7. People develop AIDS
8. Poor living conditions mean people quickly contract tuberculosis
9. Local hospitals can't afford tuberculosis medicines
10. People die
11. Fewer workers pay tax or contribute money to the economy
12. The government has less money

Discuss:

How many stages involved moral decisions?
How many stages involved political or economic factors?
What did these people die of - AIDS, immorality, ignorance, poverty?

This activity is just one of many from Youth Topics by Christian Aid. This resource and many more are available to loan from Global Education Derby's resource library.