Unite against AIDS

Hold a 'Red Ribbon' party to raise awareness about HIV and sexual health with other young people.

We've put together some useful resources to help you encourage other young people to talk about HIV and sexual health. Break down stigma and get more young people to join the Unite against AIDS campaign, raise some money, campaign – and have lots of fun!

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Decide on the type of event you plan to hold, for example:
   • Sleepover
   • School or youth group party
   • Hiring a venue with your mates for a party
   • Garden party or mini festival
   • Dinner party
2. Choose a date
   • This could be a significant date, such as World AIDS Day (1 December) or International Youth Day (12 August).
   • If your party is in a school it could be a party for the last day of term, or a party in your home for the start of the holidays.
   • Or any day you like, as a get-together with a difference with your friends.
3. Decide on a venue
   • This could be your school hall or the meeting place for your youth group.
   • It could be your own living room or garden.
   • If you're over 18 you could think about hiring out a local bar. Many bars or student unions hire themselves out for free, in return for the money they make on the bar.
4. What kind of activities will your event include?
   • If you want to raise awareness about HIV, you can do this with fact sheets and photo presentations.
   • You could write something yourself about HIV and what it means to you or get your school or university drama group involved in preparing a monologue.
   • Games!
   • Music: always a good way of bringing people together. Provide entertainment by asking a friend's band to play, or put on your favourite CD.
5. Promote your event
   • First you have to decide on a name for your event: it could simply be 'Red Party' or if your event involves lots of music it could be 'Singing for Sex' or 'Arts for AIDS'. Be creative and think of a name that sums up your event.
   • Print off this handy poster, fill in your event info and put it up in your school, shop windows, and notice boards to get your message out.
   • You could also put a notice in your school newsletter or university paper.
   • If you are having a sleepover, then get people to invite their friends and let them know what it's all about.
6. Sell tickets
   • If it is a big event then sell tickets. Fill in your event information and print them off. Or create your own!
   • Ask as many people as possible to your event. You can ask family and friends and even your venue to sell tickets for you. Selling tickets in advance means you know how many people are attending and helps to raise funds.
   • Think about how much to charge for your event. If you charge too much nobody will come, too little and you won't raise any money. Think about enticing people by offering discounts to students or sell tickets cheaper in advance.
7. Think about fundraising on the night
   • You could make your own collection tins using our easy guide.
   • This could be in the form of a raffle.
   • You could do a cake sale - check out our condom cake recipe! And if you contact supermarkets they may even provide ingredients for free.
   • You could sell red HIV and AIDS awareness ribbons. They are cheap and simple to make and at £1 a pop you could raise a lot of money.
   • If you are having a sleepover, you could make beady bracelets with your friends.
8. Think about actions you can take at the event
   • If you have thought about all the things above then your event will be pretty inspirational
   • Use the enthusiasm you have created to collect your friend's emails so that they too can get involved with UNICEF Tagd and even hold their own event.
   • If there is a current campaign going on then get your friends to take action there and then by signing an action card. Check out our Campaigns section for more information.
   • Print off our fact sheets so that your guests can remember the key messages of the night and have something to think about: Early Infant Diagnosis; Protection; Treatment; Prevention; Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission.

And remember:

• Don't let your outgoings exceed your income. If you do more spending than selling then you won't raise any funds
• If this seems like too much work then team together with some friends and share the work out.
• Take lots of photos and send them to us so that you inspire other young people with their red parties.
• Have fun! Everything will come together on the night and in the end you will not only have had an amazing party but also raised awareness about global problems and made a difference in the world. Get involved!

When you've held your Red Ribbon party don't forget to let us know how it went.