Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron has a starring role in her homeland of South Africa — helping prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Despite recent success in combating the disease — a 63% drop in new infections among the youth —  around 5.6 million South Africans have HIV. To prevent the disease from coming back again, Theron believes the key lies in empowering African youth at a grassroots level.

She recently traveled to the province of Kwazulu Natal with The Global Fund, a financing institution that aims to "prevent, treat and care for people with HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria."

(WATCH the segment of African Voices, or READ the story from CNN)

Thanks to Joel Arellano for submitting the link on our Facebook Page!