In the run up to World AIDS Day on Wednesday, staff and volunteers at Prevention Through Education (PTE) were frantically busy producing a CD album and preparing for a charity event, in addition to their usual work giving seminars and advice on AIDS prevention.

Founded in 2005 by American Gabriel Suk, the NGO educates young people in China about HIV/AIDS, with the aim of slowing the spread of the disease and reducing discrimination.

The organization holds courses that teach volunteers about AIDS prevention, testing, and treatment. PTE volunteers give lectures to primary, middle school and college students, as well as companies, in addition to offering an anonymous, free, online counseling service on HIV/AIDS.

China is estimated to have about 740,000 HIV-positive citizens, and about 100,000 AIDS patients among its 1.3 billion people.

"It is critical to have the population well educated about HIV/AIDS to win the battle and improve the lives of those already infected," says Wang Ming, director of the NGO Research Center of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University.

Though the central government does back HIV/AIDS prevention plans, at a local level they have been less effective.

Also, high-risk groups, such as prostitutes, intravenous drug users and male homosexuals, are reluctant to get involved with government programs.

"NGOs are an important, positive force in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but it's not easy for them to survive and function well," Wang says.

It is difficult for grassroots NGOs to register with civil affairs departments, while registering with government bureaus in charge of companies and businesses requires significant capital, which is beyond the means of many NGOs. Without a legal identity, NGOs cannot legally receive donations.

Funding is an important issue for PTE, which has two full-time employees and 72 volunteers.

"We have a budget of just $20,000 a year, half of which comes from annual events like the Great Wall Marathon, the rest of which Suk earns and gets from donations," says PTE program manager Yi Minhao.

It was long-term volunteer and web designer Will Gray's idea to make an album and hold a charity party to raise money.

"I play in bands and am involved with many musicians, so I got the idea to gather all these musicians," Gray says.

"People like to give money to a good cause. If they get something back, if they get something in their hands to remind them of why they give this money, then it's even more valuable," Gray says.

The CD has 13 songs from 13 bands, donated by artists from China, United Kingdom, Russia and Dutch - all of them based in Beijing.

Gray says if the party is a success then it will become an annual event that will boost the group's work.

Prevention through education is critical, says Wang Ming of Tsinghua University.

"The big problem is there may be a lot of people who don't know that they have been infected," Wang says.

"AIDS is close to you."