Development Work in the United Kingdom

After the sound of fireworks had died down over the River Thames, and the Christmas lights turned off for the last time, I lay down on my bed and thought about the year ahead. I was never very good at making New Year’s Resolutions but this particular year, 2010, I was determined I would do something ‘worthwhile’. I wanted to ‘change the world’.

While researching for my Performing Arts coursework, watching videos of acrobatic dancers I had a thought, was there anyone using dance to say something to the world?

dance4life: using dance, music and media  to educate young people about HIV and AIDS

Through the power of the internet I stumbled upon dance4life UK run by Restless Development, the youth-led development agency. To put it bluntly – I was excited. Here was an organisation (operating not only within the UK but internationally as well!) using dance to break down linguistic and cultural barriers to inspire and educate young people about HIV and AIDS.

Here was my opportunity, but there was a  problem: its hub was in London and I live in the rural heart of Northern Ireland about as far from the bright lights as possible – but soon my opportunity came about! Having joined their mailing list I received an email about the opportunity of getting involved with their media work. This would involve the creation of monthly journalistic material explaining different HIV and AIDS issues in an accessible language that would allow young people to engage with the topic.

In the latest issue I tackled the subject of ‘misinformation’ brought about by Iran’s President  Ahmadinejad comment concerning HIV and AIDS. He claimed that HIV was created ‘by the West’. I analysed and dismissed his comments before going on to discuss misinformation on HIV and AIDS  in day-to-day life. You can view some of my articles here: http://www.dance4life.co.uk/newsletter. The article would then link to a particular action that a young person could immediately do to get involved.

Internet: a new way of engaging young people

It’s easy to think of your geography as limiting your access to development work. As I have already written, I felt that living in Northern Ireland wouldn’t allow me to engage in any development work.  However, through  the internet, the engagement of young people has been taken to a different level. Charities can engage young people from everywhere in the world by getting them to tell stories. By doing this, an international focus on issues such as HIV and AIDS and/or poverty can be developed by people who access the charity’s services. Charities can also draw upon the effect of poverty in rural/isolated areas and not, as it is often the case, become urban-focused in their approach.

I am passionate about increasing access to voluntary opportunities wherever you may be in the world; each person brings his/her own individual skills and experiences which create a true dynamic that has the power to tackle poverty!

I  enjoy researching new topics so, with a heady heart of enthusiasm, I surrounded myself with as much knowledge as possible concerning HIV and AIDS – and the things I learnt were amazing! I also had the opportunity to  interview MPs, like Emily Thornberry and  to talk to other young agents4change (that’s what we call young people who volunteer at dance4life!) and even to interview some celebrities about HIV and AIDS. I became passionate about the subject almost instantly, casually correcting misinformation on a daily basis (I couldn’t believe how much was out there!).

How development work has changed my life

Being engaged in development work within the United Kingdom has, quite simply, changed my life both in outlook and in experience. In terms of outlook I now see the problems lying at the heart of all poverty-quandaries as being severely depleted by the beautiful combination of education, engagement and grassroots resource supply. Before being involved with development work I saw poverty as something unchangeable and happening to a minority. From volunteering I now understand it is feasible to cut people from the ties of poverty that millions of people face on a daily basis.

Nepal: turning to grassroots

Having been heavily involved in the engagement side this year I am now turning to grassroots, heading across to Nepal to help Restless Development, in conjunction with the Department for International Development’s (DFID) International Citizen Service programme, with the dance4life project for 12 weeks. I will now see the ‘grassroots side’ and this will hopefully inspire me to continue performing re-engagement work; locally in Northern Ireland, nationally in the United Kingdom and further international project opportunities.

By Will Stringer, an agent of dance4life project, an organisation using music, media and dance to educate young people about  HIV and AIDS. dance4life is run by Restless Development, the youth-led development agency.This article is the first of a series of  “case studies” from Restless Development in partnership with ThinkYoung Writing Team. ThinkYoung is the first think tank concerned with young Europeans.