May 7th: World AIDS Orphans’ Day activites in India.

[Guest guest]

May 7th is World AIDS Orphans' Day.

WHY A WORLD DAY? Every 15 seconds, AIDS kills a child's mother or father. AIDS

has already created more than 15 million orphans.

Association François-Xavier Bagnoud (AFXB) has created a global solidarity

network to protect the world's most vulnerable children. World AIDS Orphans' Day

(WAOD) is its showcase. This annual event helps focus the public's attention on

vulnerable and helpless children in distress by providing them with the support

of

Mayors - guarantors of the Rights of the Child in their respective

municipalities – who can commit their cities to respect the rights of our most

vulnerable children.

Children and young people, who can contribute to the ideal future world they

wish to live in.

The media, who inform and raise public awareness.

The idea behind WAOD is to demonstrate the need for a global solution to educate

orphans and other vulnerable children, and to:

Improve access to antiretroviral treatment in developing countries to keep

parents alive.

Set up sustainable community development programs designed to reinforce

families' and communities' capacity to care for these orphans, raise them,

reintegrate them into society, and educate them

about how to reach their potential as productive citizens.

In 2005, WAOD is focused on eliminating school fees, so that all orphans and

vulnerable children will have access to education.

Children represent the most vulnerable human beings because they have no voice

of their own to defend their rights. Too often neglected by governments and by

international programs, they are stigmatised, rejected, exploited, discriminated

against, and inevitably become social outcasts. The situation for children

affected by AIDS is even more critical.

" The crisis of AIDS orphans is a major humanitarian, economic, social and

security challenge that our society must urgently address. " Albina du

Boisrouvray

A Humanitarian Challenge: Despite the quasi-universal adoption of child

protection norms, more than half the world's children are deprived of their

basic needs because of poverty, war or HIV/AIDS.

As a result, they miss out on their childhood and are unable to become the

productive and responsible citizens of tomorrow.

An Economic Challenge: AIDS has a devastating economic impact on communities and

jeopardizes children's futures by increasing daily misery and breaking up

families. Because of the added financial pressure of the disease, many children,

particularly girls, are forced to drop out of school to work or take care of

their families.

A Social Challenge: The pandemic has ripped apart the social fabric of

communities and it needs to be mended. HIV/AIDS doesn't kill only parents; it

also weakens the whole support network of adults. The sick and dying include

teachers, medical personel and other adults, on whom children must depend.

A Security Challenge: AIDS orphans and vulnerable children often lack the means

to survive. They are easy prey and need to be protected so that they don't fall

victim to prostitution or crime, and so they don't become recruited as child

soldiers or human bombs.

World AIDS Orphans' Day activites in India.

Consolidated Plans for WAOD 2005 for the Eastern Region For the States of Assam,

Bihar, Jharkhand, Tripura, Meghalaya, Sikkim and West Bengal

1. Assam

FXB Assam will commemorate the occasion of World AIDS Orphan Day with an essay

competition and an awareness raising session on HIV/AIDS, focusing specifically

on AIDS Orphan.

2. Bihar

To raise awareness in the general population and inform the population on the

modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS, FXB Bihar will organize street plays in Patna

City and distribute relevant leaflets. A debate competition will also be

organized among school children to raise the topic with children and

adolescents.

3. Jharkhand

A rally is being organized with project beneficiaries in the Ranchi mail road.

It will terminate at the Ranchi Municipal Corporation office.

4. Tripura

A Thematic poster competition will be arranged among children, aged

5 to 12, from an Orphan Home called `Amader Ghar'. Some 20-25 children will be

selected and photographs and press releases will be arranged. Gram Panchayat

Pradhan, Principal of the Home, teachers & other influential persons will be

invited for the program.

5. MeghalayaB

FXB Meghalaya will arrange a cultural program with the orphans in an orphanage

in Shillong. After the program sweets would be distributed o the orphans of the

home.

6. Sikkim

A program in an orphan house, which is around half an hour drive from Gangtok

city, would be arranged. MLA or Chairperson of the Panchayat will be present.

7. West Bengal

FXB West Bengal will observe a week-long program involving different targets

groups from 3rd May till 7th May.

The inauguration of Awareness & intervention program in West Bengal's biggest

Jute Mill – Hukumchand Jute Mill will be organised on 5th May where 22,000

workers works presently. A good number of workers, management & community people

will be addressed about the

WAOD & FXB's role & contribution for the cause.

FXB West Bengal will give a week-long Rehearsal to the short-listed children of

" Sishu Bhaban " , the children wing of Missionaries of Charity, Mother .

These children between 5 and 8, will be give a cultural performance on 7 May in

the ground of Missionaries of Charity, Calcutta.

Sister of the Charity will inaugurate the program where social cause

oriented television personalities and media people will be invited to add a

special touch on the day. Special gifts will be presented to the children.

Consolidated Plans for WAOD 2005 for the Southern Region For the States of

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry & Tamil Nadu

2. FXB India Society, Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam

1.1 On 6 May 2005, from 10 to 12.30hrs, at the FXB office, a debate pertaining

to the theme of orphanhood will take place. It will target orphans from three

orphanages and deal with specific problems they face, their needs and priorities

as well as concentrated on possible solutions. The best three children from

each group, selected by the jury, will be able to present their arguments in the

open house.

1.2 On 7 May 2005, an " expert " meeting, focusing on the " Impending AIDS Orphan

Crisis and necessary Responses " , will be organized in the FXB office from 17.00

to 19.00hrs, . Rotary International (Service Club), NGOs working in HIV field,

Orphanage staff, prize winners children and the media, will attend.

The program will be as follows:

Introduction of FXB and its mission, underlining the need to provide a voice for

the rights of orphans and vulnerable children in the wake of the AIDS pandemic;

Dr. PSKP Raju, Regional Director,

southern Region

Presentation: " Impending orphan crisis and the need for action " ; Dr. TS Raja

Kumari, Chief Counselor, FXB Andhra Pradesh

Presentation by orphaned children: " Orphan problems / needs/ suggestions "

Open House – Debate, Recommendations, Prize Distribution The event will be

organized by FXB India society, Andhra Pradesh Branch in collaboration with NGOs

working with Orphans and Vulnerable Children and in the HIV/AIDS field. This

event will be covered by the media.

3. FXB India Society, Karnataka, Bangalore

FXB-Karnataka is organizing an Information Education and communication campaign

on 7 May 2005 to raise awareness of the problems faced by AIDS orphans and

vulnerable children in the communities.

4. FXB India Society, Kerala Branch

Aiming at creating an empathetic and positive attitude towards AIDS orphans

among the people and instill open discussions, a series of activities have been

organized. These activities will take place from 20 April to 7 May 2005.

4.1 Letter-Writing Competition: a letter competition will be announced on 20

April through the media. The public will be asked to write a letter to a 13

year old orphan who is HIV positive and isolated from the community. Such

competition being popular in India, parents will both motivate their children in

participating and discuss the issue with them.

4.2 Sensitization of Youth and Students: to raise awareness among youth and

students of professional colleges, Half day Programs will be set up. These

programs will include lectures, interactive sessions and group exercises.

4.3 Sensitization of woman: the above mentioned Half Day Program will be

replicated in YMCA in collaboration with women groups in the locality.

4.4 Elocution and Drawing Competition: High school students and Ups will be

asked to make drawings and speeches relating to the theme of AIDS Orphans.

3.5 Public Meeting: Official representatives of the local government as well as

the media will be invited to join community members in the celebration of WAOD.

All participants will be asked to proclaim

7 May World AIDS Orphans' Day. Holding a lit candle, they will demonstrate that

they understand the challenges faced by orphans and

vulnerable children and pledge to respect them.

4. FXB India Society, Pondicherry Branch

On 7 May 2005, a drama and song event will be organized in parallel with a short

cycling race in the tsunami affected village of Periyakalapet. This event will

regroup community volunteers, youth, village panchayat leaders and the general

public.

5. FXB India Society, Tamilnadu Chennai

A day of games and cultural events will be organized for community children,

aged 5 to 15, from NBN and Osankulam. The activities will

include: Running Race, Lemon & spoon, Potato race, Bun eating, signing

competition, Quiz competition, Fancy dress Competition. Best

performers and players will be awarded prizes.

____________________________

AFXB • 29, Av. de la Gare • CH-1950 Sion•

Tel.: +41 (0) 27 327 70 20

Fax: +41 (0) 27 327 70 21

info@... • www.afxb.org

http://www.worldorphansday.org/en/index.php

Joy Gebre-Medhin

E-mail: <jgebre-medhin@...>