Student journalists connect with South African teens

December 2, 2011

American and South African students engaged in a candid, live, online Skype dialogue, marking World AIDS Day at Boston University's College of Communication. Appearing before a web camera set up in a community library outside Cape Town, South African teenage girls (members of the Ikamva Youth Group bravely described the prevalence of AIDS in their homeland and the secrecy and shame surrounding the disease.

Students in Prof. Elizabeth Mehren's (bio) journalism class, in turn, described attitudes and awareness about AIDS here in America. Both groups had screened the AIDS documentary A Tale of Two Teens, produced by COM professors Susan Walker and Geoff Poister and featuring the music of The Dave Matthews Band. The documentary (available on Amazon) was screened at high schools, colleges and libraries during World AIDS Day.

Participants in this global class also talked about favorite sports stars and musicians (Beyoncé!). The South African teenagers ended the event with a moving South African farewell song (watch on BUniverse). Watch a video from South Africa's perspective on YouTube.