Kelly in Kenya

R&B singer, former-Destiny’s Child singer, Kelly Rowland, is the current ambassador to MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation. Staying Alive is a campaign dedicated to empowering young people to protect themselves and their communities against HIV and AIDS. Last month Kelly toured Africa, visiting projects in Tanzania and Kenya. She took an HIV test in Kenya with the aim of helping to reduce the social stigma surrounding getting tested and inspire young people to do the same. BHM talked to Kelly Rowland about her work with the Foundation and the “life-changing” events which she experienced in Africa.

Black History Month: What first motivated you to accept the position as Staying Alive Foundation Special Ambassador?

Kelly Rowland: I decided to get involved because HIV and AIDS is an issue that I hold close to my heart.

There are so many young people out there - and they all have a life to live... We’re all responsible for raising awareness - myself, MTV, everybody. What I love about the Foundation is that they get out there - they communicate directly with young people trying to fight HIV, they have constant contact and help them to build up their awareness raising projects from a grass roots level.

I truly believe that getting information out there to young people is key - the Foundation are empowering young people to do exactly this.

You hear so many statistics... the fact that young people between the ages of 15-24 are most at risk, the fact that so many people are newly infected every minute of every day... I don’t just want to stand back and watch it happen - I want to do what I can to help - joining the Foundation as ambassador just seemed like a great way to do exactly that.

BHM: You have been touring and performing in Africa as part of the campaign. What drew you to Africa and what are your thoughts on your travels in the continent so far?

KR: Although AIDS is a global pandemic, Africa is hugely affected - it affects so many lives across the continent. My trip has allowed me to gain that all important first hand experience of the issue - real insight into real people’s lives - and although it was an emotional rollercoaster at times, it was more than worth it for the inspirational people I met.

The two days I spent in Tanzania were life-changing. I met some incredible people - including Eliza. Eliza is an HIV positive young woman who was previously forced into selling her body. She spends all of her time teaching others about HIV and AIDS. She’s a hero in a lot of people’s eyes - and she’s definitely one in mine. Eliza took me to see three female sex workers who were working in Hyena Square - a place where I would never wish for anyone to be. Some of these women had children... and I just kept wondering about the future and what would happen to them. When I asked one of the women she said she had all but given up hope... I keep them in my prayers.

The following day was more uplifting - we went to see a theatre group called TAYOPA - they use performance as a means to get the AIDS awareness message out there. I had a lot of fun watching them perform - and even joined in myself. It’s a great way to get a message out and I’m so happy that I had the chance to be a part of it.

Next up on the trip was Kenya. It was in Nairobi that I made the decision to take an HIV test. I met an amazing young man by the name of John who came to get tested with me. It was a moving experience. Sure, it was nerve wracking before hand, but it feels so much better when you know your status on the other side.

Knowing your status is so important, you can effectively protect yourself and others... I’m hoping me taking the test will encourage other to do so.

BHM: Do you think that musicians generally should try to be socially responsible in their actions and behaviour, especially those who have young fans?

KR: Absolutely. With so many young people looking to you as a role model it’s important to lead by example. We are blessed to have a tremendous potential to contribute positively to a cause, and making the effort to be socially responsible is one way we can leave this world a little better than when we came in - which is a good rule to live by.

BHM: Why do you think there is still a general lack of awareness of young people in USA and across the world of the importance of safe sex?

KR: It starts with communication - or more a lack of it. My advice to young people... talk more! If you want to learn about how to protect yourself... It starts with you... you have to want to know... you have to search for the knowledge.

It’s ironic because we have so many ways of finding out information nowadays ... there are libraries, there are friends to ask. My advice for the people afraid to talk about it - Google it, go online, it’s just as simple as that! . Log on to MTV, to Staying Alive - they’ll have information for you - there’s information everywhere. It’s important, and I think it makes you even smarter because you want to go look for that information, because you value your life so much.

BHM: In the States, young people between the ages of 15-25 are still the most likely to contract AIDS. What will you do when you return to the states?

KR: That statistic, no matter how many times I hear it, still deeply shocks me - also the fact that AIDS is now the leading cause of death for young African-American women. I want to let as many people as possible know about my experiences here... I want people to realize that HIV and AIDS is real, that it doesn’t discriminate and that it can happen to anyone. I will keep working with the Staying Alive Foundation to make sure the awareness message reaches as many people as possible.

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