Together As One – Tous Ensemble – Maamwi

Patrick4Life Foundation
News Release

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North Bay, ON – Secondary school students united at the Capitol Centre today for YouthFest 2012 , a concert event to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. Co-hosted by
Juno-nominated singer Glenn Marais and members of Patrick4Life`s youth4youth committee, students were entertained by a variety of musical performers and motivational speakers with the goal of making HIV and AIDS a relevant and timely topic among local teenagers.



In the past 6 years Patrick4Life has reached out to students, grade 3 to 8 in the Nipissing area, with their HIV/AIDS awareness program. This year’s YouthFest 2012 is an all new event targeting secondary school students, organized by an enthusiastic and diverse steering committee made up of student leaders, teacher champions, community members and Patrick4Life volunteers.



YouthFest 2012 is a creative, inspiring and unified event which motivated English and French secondary students alike to recognize the power they have as individuals to be the catalyst for positive change. As one youth4youth member Shelby Wallace puts it, “I believe that young people can make a difference when they are informed of the issues.”



YouthFest 2012 provided a special forum for discussion, awareness and activism for all high school students in the Nipissing region in hopes of encouraging youth to lead the way in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS through healthy life-style choices. It showcased how youth can influence the course of the HIV and AIDS pandemic by developing healthy relationships, by making smart choices and by becoming socially responsible, conscious and compassionate citizens.



“The reason I helped plan the event is because I strongly believe youth need to be involved in the issues of our community and society,” youth4youth chair Matthew Robinson.

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