Need

The main objective of The African Pulse is to assist in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Africa through education. Its work focuses on the 10-14 age group because:

The highest infection rates in South Africa are prevalent between the ages of 20 and 30, suggesting that transmission is occurring between 15 and 20 years. The charity aims to equip young people with knowledge and life skills to enable them to retain their HIV negative status and make informed responsible decisions when considering a sexual relationship.
This age group require as much guidance and information as possible at this stage, particularly around self-image, assertiveness and making decisions, relationships, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS.
Many national campaigns are focusing on youth above the age of 15 and not enough information is relevant for this specific age group of 8-14.

The African Pulse and its work is therefore needed because:

10% of all new HIV infections worldwide occur in South Africa, where the estimated prevalence is 5.3 million (UNAIDS);
Teachers are in need of new and innovative resources with which to facilitate ‘Life Orientation’ lessons;
Life Orientation is often regarded as a ‘free period’ and not as an important learning area;
Life Orientation requires an interactive, experiential teaching method;
Learners need to be re-engaged with Life Orientation and HIV/AIDS education. There is currently a stagnant attitude towards learning in this area;
Learners of this age are vulnerable and exposed to new feelings and pressures and it is a time when many values or perceptions are formed around sex and HIV/AIDS;
24% of grade 6 and 7 (age 8-14) learners are sexually active and 40% believe that you cannot contract AIDS at this age (MRC);
Schools that have access to IT resources often lack country/culture relevant software;
There are currently no resources of this kind for Life Orientation available for this age group.

Innovative educational
resources for HIV/AIDS
and Life Skills