The Center for HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Research (CHISTRE) is respectfully requesting supports to raise funds to fund the Catch Them Young (CTY) program. CHISTRE is currently engaged in a battle against HIV/AIDS in Oguta, Imo State, Nigeria, and the CTY program will spread awareness and knowledge among the most at risk population. Statistics have shown that there is a higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the rural populations of Imo State, and the young generation is most at risk due to lack of education and awareness of the disease and issues surrounding it. The CTY program will attack these issues over the next six months by (1) educating 900 students aged 15-24 on the issues of HIV/AIDS and sexual health in general, and (2) training 80 peer educators to further inform students and other members of the community in order to create self-sustaining school programs.

The CTY program has the full support of our board of directors, and it will be the most comprehensive and culturally adept sexual education program in all of Imo State. The program was first implemented 3 years ago and has achieved astounding results thus far. It is vital that this program be carried on to ensure that the population receives the education necessary to make advances in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

This program will directly serve the rural community of Agwa, which is part of Oguta, Imo State, Nigeria. The young generation of Agwa will be the direct beneficiary of the program, with the surrounding communities and people of all ages feeling the effects. The CTY program will ultimately empower the youth with information and education in order to reduce the overall transmission of the virus, which will eventually lead to a generation without HIV/AIDS.

Thank you for considering our request. We are very excited about the prospect of partnering with you on this project, and I will follow up with you next week to answer any questions that you may have. If you need anything in the interim, please feel free to contact Nduka Ozor, CTY Project Director, at 00234-803571-9595 or chistre@yahoo.com.