chick in the city//*

Five years ago when  Vaijayanti Duraphe first heard about AIDS, she and her classmates had questions which often went unanswered in class. She soon grew tired of the monologue and uninformative classroom dialogue, staying blind to the problem of AIDS.

These kids were at a stage in life before they became sexually active, and needed to be properly educated on proper preventative care and how to stay healthy. The education system tended to skirt the issue of AIDS, often only providing minimal information and skipping over many of the problems at hand. As a result, the issue of AIDS was often ignored by children.

Fast forward to the present. H&M, a popular retailer with teenyboppers and older teens alike, announces their involvement with Designers Against AIDS, an organization dedicated to increasing AIDS awareness among impressionable teens.

After hearing about H&M’s cause, Duraphe’s interest in the cause was renewed. “I think that [Designers Against AIDS] is beneficial and a good cause,” she says, even citing suggestions to improve the message teens are recieving. “I think that preventative education should be targeted at poor communities or areas with high birth counts. I’m more aware of AIDS [now].”

Many more teens are also getting with the program after seeing many pop culture icons supporting the cause with their own line of celeb-designed t-shirts, available at H&M.   It’s the typical move that advertisers use when they have celebrities and athletes promote their products, only in this case, the celebs in question actually care about AIDS.

“It’s an honor to be asked to take part in this brilliant project. Every little thing that we do as individuals can add up to something that makes a major impact in the fight against HIV. With the purchase of these stylish t-shirts, you can be a part of something that makes a huge difference in this pandemic, while looking super-chic!” said Dita Von Teese in a statement.

Others like Anouck Lepère stress the importance of knowing your status on the AIDS front.”If everybody would get themselves tested once in a while, there wouldn’t be a problem anymore and then everybody can have free sex with each other again – so get yourself tested!” she said for Models Against Aids.

Still others believe H&M is all about reaching out to teens and promote the idea of being safe.

“H&M and Fashion Against AIDS are so important to us because we could never reach so many young people on our own. AIDS is still very much a subject that’s vitally important today. People build their attitude towards their sex lives when they’re very young, so it’s important for them to realize that safe sex is a vital part of that as early as possible,” adds Ninette Murk, the founder of Designers Against AIDS.

For those who want to do more than simply strutting around with a T-shirt, you’re in luck. The city of San Francisco is hosting the 23rd annual AIDS walk July 19. Last year’s AIDS walk was the second-largest and most successful ever, raising nearly $4.5 million, reported Craig Miller, founder and producer of AIDS Walk San Francisco.

So far, an estimated $1.5 million has been raised for AIDS Walk 2009. Those who wish to help are encouraged to sign up as a walker, sponsor a walker, volunteer at the event, and make general donations. Internships and job opportunities are also available through signing up on their site.

AIDS is a big deal. In the US alone, an estimated one million cope with AIDS, 21% going undiagnosed and unaware of their condition. California ranks as the state with the highest amount of new cases each year, totaling at around 4,000. Many of these new cases are caused by “condom fatigue,” an overall ignorance of safe sex messages.

“[AIDS] is dangerous,” concluded Duraphe. “I’m more aware of the cause now, and I hope others will be too.”

For more information on how you can help with AIDS Walk 2009, click here. To learn more about Designers Against AIDS, click here.

- CG