Charlize Theron is ''optimistic'' about the fight against AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS campaigner and actress visited a Youth Ambassador Project funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria at the Malangeni Thusong Centre, in the KwaZulu Nata province of her native South Africa on Friday (02.08.13), where she insisted young people are the key to helping eradicate the disease.

She said: ''When I see the enthusiasm and dedication of these young people, who are making such a vital contribution to preventing the spread of HIV with support from the Global Fund, I am fired up with hope and optimism. We have made great strides in the fight against the disease in a short number of years and we are getting closer to finally defeating this pandemic. With the necessary funding, we can be the generation that defeats AIDS.

''The moment is right now.''

The Youth Ambassador Project trains men and women, between the age of 18 and 30, in KwaZulu Natal province to disseminate HIV prevention messages by engaging with young people in schools, support groups, churches, at sport events and going door-to-door to meet people in their homes.

Along with her work as a HIV/AIDS campaigner, in 2007 the actress founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), which supports community-engaged projects targeting African youth.