OREANDA-NEWS. July 24, 2015. With the support of KfW, the South African NGO loveLife has developed a programme that rewards young people for risk-conscious behaviour. The idea is to use modern information technology to encourage sexual health and HIV prevention among the target group.

The digital platform has been specially developed for young people aged between 10 and 24 and can be used on digital devices. It offers content on matters of direct relevance for teenage life in South Africa in the form of videos, articles, quizzes and surveys. Users can collect points for every activity on the platform and have the opportunity to win sought-after prizes such as fashion vouchers or mobile phone credits. "The prizes are things that help to strengthen young people's self-confidence. They offer them an alternative source of social affirmation, which is frequently sought by engaging in risky sexual practices," says Grace Matlhape of loveLife.

And being active in real life is also worthwhile. Participating in events or taking an HIV test earns a particularly large number of points. No matter where the young users are in the country, "iloveLife" shows them the location of the nearest health unit.

Greater opportunities offered by digital media

"Over the last 16 years we have done innovative work with young people in order to bring down HIV infections, but we need to work hard to remain relevant, we need to find new ways of doing things. And the opportunity to create that change is here. With mobile technology, we literally hold the future in our hands," says Grace Matlhape. Mobile phones are extremely common in South Africa, and not just in the middle and upper income brackets. More than 50 % of young people from low-income brackets have their own mobile phone. They are spending more and more time in the digital world.

The purpose of the programme extends far beyond reducing high-risk sexual practices and HIV infection rates. It also addresses all the opportunities and challenges facing the young generation in South Africa, offering personal advice provided by specially trained staff via an integrated telephone hotline. "iloveLife" wants to reach one million young people by 2017.