The campaign started at 8h00 on Tuesday morning with Rise members writing positive colour chalk messages/grafitti on the pavements in front of Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein to encourage and support all Aids and Domestic Violence victims in the area.
They then started to march together with the Bloemfontein Working on Fire team to Clive Solomon Stadium in Heidedal where the programme formally commenced at 9h00 with a drill ceremony from the Working on Fire team on behalf (out of respect) to those who have passed on due to the disease.
The main emphasis from all the messages received from the guest speakers on the day fell on: Love yourself and respect others - encouraging youth to take ownership of their own lives and to ensure that they always make save choices. Getting to Zero can only become a realistic goal if everyone starts taking action and supporting one another in the fight against Aids. For communities and individuals to break the silence by saying #Its ‘not Okay When you see something that is”#Not Okay.
The Rise Clubs and WoF teams engaged in a two hour Soccer tournament and different fun and games where after Miss Junior South Africa 2014, Olorato Malotle inspired the Youth with her motivational talk about HIV/Aids.
The Motheo Rise Young Women’s clubs thereafter entertained the audience with different:
- HIV/Aids and domestic violence dramas
- World Aids Day Poems
- Dances
Except for Miss Teen SA, the following stakeholders acted as guest speakers on the day:
- Mrs Pop Myburgh from DoE – Regarding the effect of HIV on Education and the Youth
- Mrs Busisiwe Moabi – Regarding GBV – From the Tshepong Victim Support Centre
- Sister Dieketseng Nyamane - Importance of knowing your HIV Status and going for treatment.
- Patrick Klaas – Community Leader – Testifying about living with Aids and choices one makes in life.
The day came to an end with a formal prize giving to the winning soccer team, receiving medals.
Through- out the day participants were encouraged to visit the DoH tent for VCT testing. Volunteers were also writing their “True life stories: A life, living with HIV/Aids in SA” in a provincial My True Life Story Book.
