KIEV’S STREET KIDS – AND THE GROWING HIV/AIDS RISK TO THE WEST.

JOHN CAUDWELL

@johndcaudwell

PRESS RELEASE

November 28, 2011.

KIEV’S STREET KIDS – AND THE GROWING HIV/AIDS RISK TO THE WEST.

Entrepreneur John Caudwell has just returned from Kiev where he saw at first hand the quietly-growing but potentially significant health issue which could re-invigorate the HIV/AIDS threat in Western Europe.

John, who sold his mobile phone business in 2006 to concentrate on supporting a number of charities, went with the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) to Kiev in the Ukraine to see both the work of EJAF @ejaforg – and the extent of the challenge.

“There’s a whole sub-culture of street kids – living in squats and dens amongst the heating pipes under Kiev’s streets and bridges – aged from around 14 to 22, who have been rejected by society,” said Caudwell, who has put together an intentionally provocative video diary of the visit http://bit.ly/s1Wp95.

“Drugs are endemic – 80% of these street kids are said to be addicted, which brings untold health risks – but matters are made worse by the girls who see getting a ‘boyfriend’ as being a priority because they believe that will give them some security in life. But with little or no understanding of those health risks, around 20% have HIV/AIDS. Most believe there is no help for them.

“But the West should take not: HIV/AIDS infection levels in the Ukraine are reaching a point where spreading of the disease becomes exponential – and with the volume of movement of people into Western Europe, plus the number of overseas workers in the Ukraine, this has potentially huge ramifications.

Caudwell and partner Claire Johnson joined Elton John and David Furnish, along with actor David Walliams and his wife Lara Stone, and others hoping to raise awareness of the issue, on the trip

“Success in helping the street kids in Kiev is measured by simply getting them to come forward so they can get help. The vast majorityare distructing of the authorities, and spend their lives on the streets dodging rape and violence,” said John.

In his video diary, John highlights the stark contrast between the privilieged lives of those who donate to and drive the Elton John AIDS Foundation and its work, with the squalor and helplessness by young people living on – and under – the streets of Kiev.

“If we’d just run a few clips of impoverished, rejected, drug-addicted street kids eking a life in squats, then unpleasant as those clips are, they have far more impact when we slot them between clips from the other dramtically different extremes of life and society,” he said

“It’s a dreadful situation, and it is incumbent upon those of us who are in a position to be able to help to do just that.”

The footage in the video diary was shot by David Walliams and John Caudwell

In 2006, John Caudwell sold his 10,000-employee mobile phone business, which included Phones 4u, for £1.5billion. John now concentrates on charitable and philanthropic work including Caudwell Children @caudwellkids.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk