Philippe Talavera was born in France in 1971. He studied simultaneously veterinary sciences (PhD), human biochemistry (certificate) and theatre. He moved to South Africa in 1995 for his PhD (Tuberculosis). He found a position in 1997 in northern Namibia. In 1999. In 2000, teachers in the area requested him to prepare a program to support their attempt to effectively and efficiently integrate HIV/AIDS activities into the curriculum of their school. He decided to use the Arts in working with young people. The program has been so successful that he got involved full-time as director end 2001.

Work experiences include theatre and video production (including the series ‘love can cry’, officially nominated at the FESPACO 2003 and presented in festivals across the world). He is also the author of ‘Challenging the Namibian perception of Sexuality: a case study of the Ovahimba and Ovaherero culturo-sexual models in Kunene North in a HIV/AIDS context’ (Windhoek, Namibia), the co-author of ‘Sang Pensees m’ecrier’ (With his brother, France) and ‘the Hyena’s Disease’ (with children from Kunene, Windhoek, Namibia). He also presented a photographic exhibition at the National Arts Gallery of Namibia (2003)