Press Release

U.S. Government Supports The Living Positive Christmas Tour

The Living Positive Tour, a musical event bringing HIV/AIDS prevention messages to Namibian audiences, will begin its holiday tour of coastal cities including Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Henties Bay, and Arandis on December 14, 2007. The tour will run until Sunday, December 22, 2007.

The Living Positive Tour features the male a capella group, Vocal Motion 6, and Ms. Herlyn Uiras, an HIV+ woman, who uses vocal talents, dramatic skills, and personal experiences to convey HIV/AIDS prevention, anti-stigma, and living positive messages.

The coastal and Arandis schedule includes town halls, sports clubs, churches, as well as the Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and Arandis prisons. The Tour will also perform for the small marginalized community of the Toppenaars outside of Walvis Bay, and the DRC Camp in Swakopmund.

Performances are open to the general public at the Swakopmund Christmas Market;  at the Carol Service at the Swakopmund Amphitheater at 17H00 on December 15;  at the Henties Bay Town Hall at 17H00 on December 16;  at Kuisebmond Town Hall at 19H00 on December 18;  at the Tamariskia Town Hall at 19H00 on December 19;  at Dolphin Beach at 10H00 on December 22;  and at the Arandis Town Hall at 19H00 on December 22.

The Living Positive Tour made its debut on July 7, 2007 at the Katutura Multi-purpose Center. Since then, it has performed in front of enthusiastic audiences of over 10,500 children and adults at schools, churches, colleges, universities, sports clubs, and multi-purpose centers.  It is supported by a US$42,000 PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) grant from the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, and the next tour is planned for the south of Namibia during February of 2008.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Public Affairs Officer, Ray Castillo, at 0811280816, Information Assistant, Roger Lyners, at 229801 [ext. 226], or Gloudie Knipe at 0811294959.