My story is one among millions of young people who do not remember a time without a computer, MTV or AIDS. When I was very little, my mother sat me down and told me about a pandemic that would eventually become one of the greatest challenges and threats my generation would face. What I didn't know was that "as long as I would remember, there would always be AIDS".*

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

Nobody really talked about it because it only happened to gay people-apparently-and no one really talked about it, but mummy said others could have it too.

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

In high school, we got condoms and were told all the time to practice safe sex, or AIDS will come in time. There's always temptation, there's always the rest, but put on a rubber, you kids do your best.

The church said no condoms, no sex is the best, just zip up your trousers and don't show your chest. Boys are shame, shame, shame; you get in that business and you'll be to blame. I don't really like boys and they don't seem to care, so long as there's no sex, no AIDS will be there. As for boys and boys I don't really care, behind closed doors I'm not even there.

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

Magic Johnson has it, he doesn't look sick? Tom Hanks and Denzel, what the hell? What's really going on? What is really being said? It's all over TV and on the news, it seems like this AIDS is getting taboo.

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

Everyone's tired of hearing about AIDS and condoms too-leave us alone, we know what to do!

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

I haven't had sex yet, no drugs here. But he pulled down my shorts in a bad way and pushed down my head. … It's crazy to think that the first time is like this, I hope there's no AIDS here, I wish I was dead.

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

I can't believe I'm almost eighteen, and after all those lectures, I didn't know what to do. He said he forgot the condoms and that he loved me too; I asked about testing and who he'd been with? I know that's not enough, I know it's not true, but finally I'm pretty and boys think so, too.

I can't tell my mum, she'll kill me for sure; she'll throw away the keys and lock up the door. After all that I said and the work that I've done, I made a mistake, my mouths open wide; I'm such a hypocrite, it's like I have lied. ...

I know what I'll do, I've got it: I'll wait and give blood-yeah, that's what I'll do, and just as the lady said, if they don't call to say anything, then nothing to fret. Phew, they never called.

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

I haven't slipped since way back when. God knows, in fear, I learned my lesson then. But now all the time there is news from home (Africa). This one died of a stomach ache, that one of a cold. Nobody says they die of AIDS.

Your village will kill you, your babies won't grow and when your money's all spent, you'll die like an animal and go to hell. Everyone has stories, but nobody knows whether AIDS comes from a virus or it happens when it snows …

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

Now I'm in college and we heard some campaigns, but nothing about AIDS in America-it's a problem that's just not here. I tell all my friends, take care of yourselves; one mistake in bed and you could be dead. Ooooh, hush, oh stop, we get the point, but when was the last time you saw Magic J. dead?

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

Now I am a young woman and I've had enough. … My Africa is dying and nothing's being said. It's like you can live if you've got the pence, but if you ain't got no money, you're gonna be dead.

The campaigns are back and I'm sure glad to see, "wrap it up", said it hip hop, know HIV/AIDS pop, then "think MTV" came and told us fight back. If he says he loves you and you're the best, get on the train and go get a test.

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

My favorite person died, my sister is sick, my dance teacher died, that lady from church I heard she passed on. So I'm showing these movies downtown at Quad, they'll show you their stories and urge you to test, when you leave the cinema, you all will know best.

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

"We all have HIV/AIDS"-yes, this is true-from Beverly Hills to Ouagadougou, from Bali to Yaounde, Dakar or Japan, around the world this AIDS has spanned: straight, queer, hunters of deer, grey hair, black, botox or not. As long as I have lived, there's always been AIDS, and it will always be there if nothing is changed.

Go back to your village, bungalow, bed; go back to your mission, your courage, your dread. Stop into your pharmacist, classroom, or talk to your board. Since "we all have AIDS" and if nothing is said, it seems quite simple, we all will be dead.

As long as I can remember, there's always been AIDS.

But there is one thing, and I believe it is true, there's so much fight left in me and in you. We'll care if people are sick here or there, we'll care about dying anywhere.

So when I look back at my life in 25 more years, I'll see bolded in red: Once there was AIDS, it killed many friends, but now it is over, now it is dead.

*For UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who told us to "make a noise".