In March 2007 K4L delivered ‘Test Your Team’, a football tournament for young people in Lesotho that incorporated testing for HIV. With players from Lesotho's national football team acting as ‘AIDS educators’ at the event, boys and girls from 24 local schools took part. Each team gained points for winning matches, getting tested for HIV, and completing AIDS educational sessions. In total more than 450 people were tested.
The event in Maseru, Lesotho's capital, was run in partnership with the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI), the Baylor Medical Centre, Lesotho Football Association (LEFA), and the Lesotho Government's 'Know Your Status' Campaign.
K4L Chief Executive, Pete Fleming, said; “This event was the first of its kind in Lesotho, and a groundbreaking opportunity for a public health initiative to move youth towards testing and enrolment in antiretroviral treatment. There is real stigma surrounding AIDS in Lesotho, and this prevents people getting tested, and accessing the vital services they need. If we can use football to create positive peer pressure among young people to get educated, tested and treated, then we can save lives.”
As part of its wider strategy in the country, K4L now plans to deliver ‘Test Your Team’ events in other parts of Lesotho.
As part of its wider strategy in the country, K4L now plans to deliver Test Your Team events in other parts of Lesotho. Watch a short film about 'Test Your Team' .
