Action: WAD 2008: “I am HIV Positive” Campaign
This time around, we the R.E.A.C.H Team have decided to ‘Be HIV Positive." Positive about awareness, positive about education, and positive about supporting and reaching out to people living with HIV and AIDS.
The "I am HIV Positive" campaign will be launched on the 1st of December 2008, to commemorate Worlds AIDS Day. The campaign will consist of many sub campaigns.
The details of the activities/sub campaigns that will take place on that day are as follows:
Positive about Education
‘I am HIV Positive’ is an awareness campaign that targets a total of about 2000 students of 50 schools all over Colombo. Of a team of 100 volunteers, two will be stationed at each school and an information desk will be set up. From this information desk, students will be able to collect informative material such as leaflets and pin-flags and put forward any queries relating to HIV and AIDS and have them answered. This will also be an opportunity for them to openly discuss what they feel about the epidemic and bring it out into the open. In addition to the above, on request, a presentation and discussion on HIV and AIDS will be conducted by our team for the students.
"I am HIV Positive" T-shirt
T-shirts with "I am HIV Positive" printed on them will be distributed to volunteers participating in this campaign and representatives from various organizations sharing similar goals as us. These t-shirts will help spread awareness by creating hype in workplaces, schools and around Colombo in general.
"We are HIV Positive" March
Participants and Volunteers wearing "I am HIV Positive" t-shirts, along with whoever that wishes to join in will march on the streets from Borella to Maradana waving themed flags and banners that communicate positive messages on HIV and AIDS to onlookers.
The Red Page
A red page will be published in the December issues of magazines in honor of World AIDS day. This will create awareness and instill a sense of curiosity amongst readers which will, in turn help us to communicate our message and attract a wider range of people to support our cause.
Compassionate Church
Around 50 different churches will commemorate World AIDS Day on Sunday the 31st of November by showing a video based on HIV and AIDS to their congregation, praying for PLHIV, observing 2 minutes of silence for lives lost to AIDS or simply by wearing red AIDS ribbons during the services taking place.
Positive Cause
The members of our cause on Facebook will receive notifications on ways they can spread awareness among their friends, which includes making their status "I am HIV Positive", Explaining their status in the area on their profiles called "write something about yourself" and by downloading an HIV and AIDS related image from www.behivpositive.com and making it their profile picture. We hope to reach out to the 2500 members of our cause, or more through this campaign.
SPMS (Short Positive Messaging Service)
A general SPMS on HIV and AIDS will be sent out to friends, family, co-workers and members of our already existing network, urging them to pass it on to as many others as possible, targeting approximately 2000 people.
The Red Reel
A slide with a message on HIV and AIDS will be played in theatres around Colombo before, after or during the intermission of all shows on that day, reaching out to a vast range of people. After shows allocated teams of volunteers will be handing out leaflets and other informative material to those leaving the cinema.
We would also like to thank you for all the support you have extended in the past, and we invite you to join us as we strive to "Be HIV Positive"
If you are interested in volunteering for this event please feel free to use the contact information given below:
Telephone (Naran): 2 513865 / 077 394 8591
Email: iamhivpositive@live.com