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It is one of the scourges of the developing world – limiting life expectancy and infecting millions.

Now two Welsh teens are joining the fight against HIV/AIDS in a country with one of the highest rates.

Dylan Jones from Neath, and Raphael Rosin from Cardiff, are working in Zambia on a project to improve knowledge and understanding of good sexual health.

In Zambia, 60% live below the poverty line and the average life expectancy is just 62- nearly 20 years below the UK.

Dylan and Raphael, both 19, are four weeks into a three month stint in Zambia, working on a Volentry Services Overseas project to help combat the spread of sexual transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

More than 1.2 million Zambians currently live with HIV, and there were 20,000 AIDS-related deaths in the country last year.

Working alongside young Zambian and British volunteers, the boys are helping to deliver sex education classes at local schools and youth groups.

They are also organising awareness raising days in the local community, and will be training local volunteers to become Sexual Health Champions who will continue to offer information, advice and counselling about sexual health to young people in Zambia when the volunteers leave.

Dylan said: “Lots of young people in Zambia have little sex education because health services are very limited, and there are loads of myths about sex such as drinking boiled Coca-Cola and paracetamol will stop you getting HIV.

“Those services that exist can be hard for young people to access. This means they don’t know how to use contraception properly or keep themselves safe from any STIs, STDs and HIV, and has led to many young people catching them or girls falling pregnant, which has a big knock on effect on their education and employment opportunities, as they are leaving school at a very young age.

“So far the school sessions have been going really well. The children seem to be very interested to learn about sexual reproductive health.

“I spoke to some of the pupils and they said that they had never been shown how to use a condom, but after our session they told us they’d be confident using them from now on. It’s great to know the work we’re doing is making a difference in the local community.”

The boys travelled to Zambia through the International Citizen Service (ICS) programme, funded by UK aid.

ICS volunteers work alongside young local volunteers in some of the poorest communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America on issues like sexual health, education, women’s rights and economic empowerment.

Raphael believes everyone should try volunteering.

He said: “Volunteering is one of the things that I believe everyone should try at least once. The impact it has is wide reaching, and is vital for development of the world as a whole. To interact with those most in need, and on a personal level, is just something that cannot be achieved in any other way.

“But why did I choose to volunteer to teach sexual health? Well, I would say, you may be surprised on how entangled this specific issue is with the many problems facing Zambia and other developing countries.

“Concerns such as early marriage and teenage pregnancy do not just pose problems for the girls affected, but also for the wider economic and social development of the country.

“Having such a large percentage of dependent people puts a strain on both local communities and governments. The predominance of HIV and AIDS, which not only puts immense difficulties on those affected, but also on the health service and on international aid, which provides most of the treatment for the condition.

“Improving sexual health would not just provide immeasurable benefits for those directly affected, but also for the country as a whole on its path for progress.”

After returning to the UK on April 9, Dylan and Raphael will also take on an Action at Home project, to try and use their new skills also benefit their local communities in South Wales.

Felicity Morgan, director of ICS at VSO, said: “ICS volunteers like Raphael are doing amazing work around the world, every day. Our volunteers have helped promote children’s rights in Nigeria, campaign against child marriage in Bangladesh and bring safe drinking water to communities in Nepal.

“We’re incredibly proud that UK Aid is supporting young Brits bring about positive change in some of the world’s poorest communities. As an organisation working on the frontline against poverty VSO see how people across Britain play an important role in delivering UK Aid; from the NHS and Army helping end the Ebola crisis, to the millions who donate, and the contribution we all make through a tiny percentage of our taxes, together we are all making the world fairer.”

For more information about ICS and how to apply, visit http://www.volunteerics.org/