A YOUTH charity raising awareness of sexual health and the global impact of AIDS has been invited to a debate at the House of Lords.

RAID will join MPs, academics, charities and those working in international development at the International Development Policy Debate on Wednesday, June 20.

The small charity aims to boost awareness about the issues young people face in relation to sexual health around the world.

Over the course of seven years, its team has worked with young people in eSwazini – formerly Swaziland – to educate and empower them.

Through visits and exchanges, children from the North-East have formed relationships with the Good Shepherd High School in Siteki, where more than half of the pupils have lost parents to HIV, TB and other diseases.

RAID trustee Sue Davidson, said the young people had learned about the “hard reality” of AIDS through their connection to eSwazini, which has the highest prevalence of HIV in the world.

The charity is currently working to establish a social enterprise project to allow young people in eSwazini to set up projects to fund education for themselves and siblings.

Ms Davidson hopes attending the upcoming debate will allow the charity to collaborate with others in a bid to improve policies and exchange ideas.

She said: “We are excited to be invited to contribute towards national policy development as we are a youth led charity and we believe that by working together young people can change attitudes in their communities and contribute to the decisions which affect them.

“We are only a small charity without the resources of national organisations but we believe the importance of education for children and young people cannot be overstated.

“Education promotes better health, improved self-esteem and the development of skills that are essential for making a living in later life.”