International AIDS awareness

Hey Guys,

I live in Rome, Italy and am a new high schooler here. Before I came here, I was really actively involved in clubs at my old school and did JHR, volunteered in Africa for Dartmouth University, and participated in the World Food Prize Youth Institute.

However, since I came to Rome, I haven't seen a single ad or commercial that promotes AIDS/ HIV awareness. I don't think you know how wrong that is. I live in a city where the World Health Organization, the United Nations, Greenpeace, and other humongous NGOs call home. I also live 2-3 hours from Africa.

My point is, why aren't people here getting involved? I'd like to start up an organization in Italy or possibly the European Union where students can get involved in promoting these issues at their schools. Also, they could raise money to send condoms or other HIV/AIDS prevention goods to Africa and possibly go and volunteer in Africa. How would you suggest I start? I don't really want to start up a new chapter with JHR or some other American/Canadian organization because I feel their mission statement is oriented toward american students only.

There definitely should be an incentive for European, especially international students to get involved in HIV/AIDS awareness. Every IB student has to have 150 hours of volunteering; why not get involved in something that good for the community? The main problem is how do I begin?