The international Christian broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) has recently partnered with the US-based Kerus Global Education to produce a character-based radio programme, which aims to share messages of abstinence and HIV/AIDS prevention with young people worldwide, especially African Youths.

Based on the educational materials called "It Takes Courage!" that Kerus has created, TWR is producing drama-centred radio programmes. The first programme is expected to be aired alongside with a major HIV/AIDS prevention project that Samaritan’s Purse is undertaking in four African nations.

Samaritan’s Purse, a US-based Christian relief organisation led by the famous evangelist Franklin Graham, is also a partner of Kerus.

"Kerus has tremendous credentials when it comes to the educational aspects of HIV/AIDS and has done training in 41 countries," said Tom Watkins, who facilitates new HIV/AIDS ministry for TWR. "What we’re hoping to do with the Samaritan’s Purse project is to air these programs at the same time they’re doing on-the-ground curriculum training."

HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest threats to the lives of the world in this era. Every day 14,000 Africans become infected with HIV/AIDS. Not only the lives of HIV/AIDS patients will be ruined by the deadly disease, but also it will lead to other problems such as orphans and poverty.

According to a press release from TWR dated on 19th July, TWR and Kerus have both agreed the best way to combat this disease is to not only care for the sick and provide a message of hope for those who are struggling, but also to prevent the spread of the virus altogether.

"The church has launched many excellent programs but they’re not far-reaching," Dr. Marcia Ball, co-founder/CEO of Kerus, said. "Kerus and Trans World Radio want to complement what’s already going on in the field and fill some of the gaps where programmes are doing well."

TWR expects that the HIV/AIDS educational radio programme will not only benefit Africa but also other parts of the world.

This joint project with Kerus has initiated the TWR’s new commitment on HIV/AIDS ministry and it will be a major part of its HIV/AIDS broadcasts plan over the next six years.

"We’ve been focusing a lot on care of people with AIDS, on evangelising them, on giving them hope for the future," TWR’s Watkins said. "But now we’re going to be working on prevention, which means essentially trying a programme that works more in terms of 10- to 15-year-olds, because that’s the reality in Africa."

The HIV/AIDS education programme will first focus on Uganda, Mozambique, Kenya and Ethiopia, along with a second partnership in South Africa. Depending on funding, the partners will produce programmes for parents and pastors and establish radio listener groups, as well as expand the efforts into other nations.

"The important thing to remember is that HIV/AIDS is not just an African problem," TWR’s Watkins said.

Dr. Marcia Ball of Kerus added, "The church at large is mobilising to respond to this epidemic like never before. Pray that we would have wisdom in creating partnerships and launching effective projects."

Kerus Global Education was founded in 1995. Kerus is a Greek word means "of the heart" or "to do something with passion". Kerus is specialised in strategic consulting for governmental and non-governmental agencies, health and human services professionals, schools and churches, and to equip them to meet the challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It has reached over 33,000 professionals and 3.5 million students in over 50 nations.