Red like Love, as a symbol of passion and tolerance for those affected.

Red like blood, representing the pain caused by many people who have died of AIDS. Red like the anger about the helplessness about which we are facing for a disease for which there is still no cure. Red as a sign of warning not to carelessly ignore one of the biggest problems of our time.
INTRODUCTION
A. Background: Red Ribbon Club (RRC) is a comprehensive promotional and preventive intervention to enhance voluntary blood donation as well as mainstream HIV & AIDS prevention, care & support and treatment impact, mitigation, stigma reduction, among the youth in educational institutions. It will also prepare and promote youth peer educators within and outside the campuses.

B. The Need and Context:
* Worldwide, 38.6 million people live with HIV
* More than four million new infection added each year
* Half of all new infection are among the age group of 15-24 years
* Need for primary prevention intervention through mainstreaming.

C. Rationale behind focusing Youth:
Unaddressed growing up concerns * Beliefs and values surrounding body, sex and sexuality Existing curriculum do not address psycho-social needsInadequate information about HIV/AIDS/RTI/STIs and drugs Less access to healthcare Vulnerable age group to indulge in unsafe practices. Young minds are impressionable, reaching to them at the earliest can effect behavior change

D. Role of the Red Ribbon Club:
* Educate youth with correct, concise and adequate information

* Enable youth, especially the female students, to identify and understand situations of exploitation and abuse.

* Sensitize the youth regarding care and support needs of PLHIV

* Increase access to health care services

* Create linkages between youth and GOs, NGOs and CBOs

* Organize and facilitate VBD camps and mobilize the youth for VBD.

* Create among the youth a cadre of peer educators