2. “Strings” Perform as HIV/AIDS Goodwill Ambassadors

AMAL Communications, in collaboration with UNICEF and Pakistan’s National AIDS Control Programme, has produced a documentary on Pakistan’s famous pop group, “Strings”, as they travelled through the country talking to different youth groups about HIV/AIDS-related issues.

This journey was part of a joint effort of UNICEF, UNAIDS, NGOs and governments worldwide to open up the sensitive issue of HIV/AIDS. The aim of “Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS” is to make it possible for popular entertainers to engage directly with the children in their own countries. Faisal Kapadia, Strings vocalist, and Bilal Maqsood, lead guitarist, have already begun to reach out to some of the 75 million children in their homeland. Children in Pakistan are primarily at risk of HIV infection through intravenous drug use, although sexually transmitted infections are now on the rise.

One of the first stops for the goodwill ambassadors was the AMAL project at a carpet weaving factory in Hazara. The children there have little in the way of basic health information and hygiene training, let alone education. Thanks to AMAL’s non-formal life skills programme, these boys were very open to the opportunity to learn from the young performers about HIV/AIDS and how to protect themselves.

“I think the reason is that they can relate to us,” said Bilal. “They can relate to us and the dialogue was very comfortable.”

In their first international appearance as UNICEF Pakistan national ambassadors of HIV/AIDS, the acclaimed Pakistani pop group put on a sensational performance at the United Nations Secretariat on 25 October, 2005. The audience included activists, opinion makers, celebrities and the world’s media; the occasion was to launch the global campaign, “Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS”.