The dusty roads of Bulwer in KwaZulu-Natal criss cross the hills at the feet of the towering Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg mountain range. In these valleys peer educators with funding from USAID/PEPFAR and support from Adidas are using the World Cup to embark on a major drive for HIV prevention and counselling and testing. Walking from homestead to homestead these volunteers are using the Brothers for Life World Cup materials featuring prominent sports personalities to mobilise adults to do the right thing and prevent HIV prevention.

There is a marked shift in these hills from days gone by as men and women stop the peer educators who hail the nurse accompanying them to come and test them in their local homesteads as part of the Governments HCT campaign spearheaded by President Zuma. Asked why there is such a willingness to test peer educators explain that campaign driven by the governments and Brothers for Life campaign coupled with seeing those who were sick getting better and has given men a reason to test.

But it’s not only testing that is being promoted, along the dusty roads the now familiar sight of the Turntable Trust bus is directed to a local shebeen where men gather around to listen to the peer educators explaining how multiple partners increases their risk of infection and how partner limitation and correct and consistent condom usage can stop new HIV infections.

Back at the Turntable Trust premises off the main road of Bulwer, young people are participating in cultural activities including traditional games, five a-side soccer tournaments and the Scrutinize risk game emphasising a very important message that in the hills of Bulwer the community is flipping HIV to HI Victory.