Albion in the Community, the Charitable Arm of Brighton and Hove Albion, and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance are working together on a unique two week event to increase the understanding of HIV prevention through football.

To tie in with the 2010 World Cup, which kicks off in South Africa in June, the organisations will invite a number of young leaders from West Africa to spend two weeks in Brighton.

They will spend the first week at the , learning to be qualified football coaches, but more importantly how to be role models and providers of information and education on reproductive health and specifically HIV.

They will then spend a second week at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance where they will learn how to incorporate HIV prevention messages through football, for the benefit of the young people attending their football classes once they get home.

It is especially important to target these youngsters as in general, 40% of all new HIV infections occur among young people, aged 15–24.

And these HIV infection rates are highest in sub-Saharan so it is here that youth need to be reached with HIV prevention education. Adopting healthy behaviours at this early age is far easier than changing risky behaviours once they are entrenched in adulthood.

To fundraise for this event, three staff - - and one staff member - Jacob Naish - will be running in the Brighton Marathon on April 18. This is their first ever marathon but they are donning their trainers to kick-start fundraising for the project.

Alice, Jacob, Sam and Taline would appreciate your support in sponsoring them to help bring these aspiring football coaches to the . By showing them how to educate their peers, they can advance the HIV prevention method through sport thus providing both health education and fun for the youth in their communities.