We are rapidly responding to the COVID-19 pandemic using our expertise in behaviour change campaigns. Our miniseries 'MTV Shuga: Alone Together' brings life-saving messaging to young people across sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

The Coronavirus pandemic is impacting us all. And as with any crisis, those who are already vulnerable are at higher risk. Across sub-Saharan Africa there are communities for whom the effect of the pandemic will be devastating. This includes people without access to running water, local healthcare or medical services, and those who have already been diagnosed with HIV and other pre-existing conditions. Many of these people live in slums or townships, and the idea of ‘socially distancing’ let alone ‘self-isolating’ is an impossibility.

At the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, we tell stories that save lives. We are a media movement that produces game-changing content for young people, content that helps them make positive decisions about their health. We are now creating urgent Coronavirus messaging in response to the pandemic.

Our new campaign, MTV Shuga “Alone Together” (formed of scripted mini-episodes, self-filmed by actors in lockdown), covers crucial key public health messaging relating to COVID-19, as well as related “hidden” issues, such as the heightened threat of violence within the home during a lock-down, addressing mental health, and ideas to keep healthy & well while isolating.

Our method is tried and tested, and we will have a real impact – a recent World Bank study showed that young people who watched our flagship “edutainment campaign”, are subsequently twice as likely to get tested for HIV, and are three times more likely understand the risk of HIV. We know that using our platform, we can get effective, clear COVID-19 prevention information into these communities, using digital distribution methods which are unaffected by lockdown restrictions.

Please donate today and help us get our life-saving Coronavirus messaging to young people around the world. We're also pleased to announce MTV Staying Alive is supported by a generous supporter who will match each donation made (up to a total of $50,000), helping your donation go even further in supporting our work.

Our own ability to fundraise and generate income from events has been severely affected, but we’re working quickly to find new ways to protect the communities we serve. We can’t do it without your support.

Thank you,

The MTV Staying Alive Foundation

If you would like to donate in USD $ please click here.