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When it comes to open discussions about relationships and sex, many youths simply evade the topic; even more so when the topic of HIV surfaces. But there are groups such as the Collaborative Network of Persons living with HIV and the Latin American Network of positive youths from Latin America and the Hispanic Caribbean that focus on providing services and support to infected youths. Today coordinators held a closed door meeting at the Ramada with some of these youths on forming advocacy groups. We don't have footage of the meeting since it was closed door - but Courtney Weatherburne did find out more from the organizers:..

Eric Castellanos
"The activity that we are having today and tomrow is the first national assembly of HIV positive young people and what we are doing is that young perons living with HIV and the supporters, other young people that supports young people living with HIV have come together and they will be working on identifying proirty areas to work on an advocacy plan and to get started a national movement of young persons living with HIV."

Kevin Mendez, Adherence Counselor, Ministry of Health
"One of the main things that we focus on is for instance here at the Ministry we have support group sessions. Its very important to have support group sessions so that people can relate, people can feel that they are no longer alone and then also when it comes to youth I guess once you hav somebody that vocal about their status then like I said there is somebody thats going to bring them in."

And while for some it might seem like an unending nightmare to contract HIV, Randy Santos who was diagnosed with HIV in 2010 found joy in Expressive Arts and he has been able to live a fulfilling life.

Randy Santos, 23 years old
"Actually nothing has change. I have always been like free-spirited person. My parents are very accepting, my family and also my friends and also I do a lot of things like I am a dancer, I do modeling and so I am very well known here in Belize and I think people look at me for who I am as Randy Santos and not for what I have."

Diego Jrajlez, Focal Point - J+LAC
"Like the world was crashing down, basically I thought that everything was going to end, my life is over. But then I seek help and I found help with CNET PLUS and then I got empowered and I grew as a person."

According to Kevin Mendez of the Ministry of Health about 3,400 people are living with HIV in Belize. 2013 recorded 249 cases of youths living with the virus.