Record-breaking attempt to spread AIDS awareness at garba venues

September 21, 2009

18 September 2009,

VADODARA: If you find garba revellers at all major venues in the city playing

with a red ribbon tied on their arms, don't be surprised. A city-based

education group has decided to spread awareness about AIDS during the nine

nights of Navratri this year. The J C Group is planning to reach out to more

than 4 lakh people in the city and provide information about the disease.

The group, in the process, will also break the record of spreading AIDS

awareness to maximum persons within a short span of time. At present, an NGO

holds the record of reaching out to 2.97 lakh children in seven districts of

Tamil Nadu. " We want to reach out to maximum number of youth as they need to be

sensitised first about AIDS. Navratri is a good occasion to contact the young

generation as lakhs turn up to r either play or watch garbas, " said chairperson

of J C Group Sunil Dalwadi.

" Also, Navratri is considered to be a sacred festival as it celebrates triumph

of good over evil. It is a good occasion to spread awareness of such a disease

that has claimed lakhs of lives across the world. We will also break the record

for spreading AIDS awareness to maximum people, " Dalwadi added.

About 250 volunteers, all students, will spread out at over 36 garba venues in

the city and contact the revellers and audience. Every group of volunteers will

visit at least three grounds every day and tie red ribbon on the arms of the

revellers. The event has been named 'Creating Endless Hopes for Hopeless Ends'

and it will target youth over 15 years of age. The chief guests at all venues

will also be asked to release red balloons during intervals.

" The Limca Book of Records has already accepted our application for the record.

We will send all the documents to them soon after Navratri. The Tamil Nadu NGO

had spread awareness among children below the age of 12, which is not the actual

target group, " said project in-charge and international programme manager of J C

Group Shweta Upadyaya.

The volunteers will also distribute cards containing details about AIDS and ways

to prevent it and banners will also be kept at several locations in the venue.

-spread-AIDS-awareness-at-garba-venues/articleshow/5028282.cms

Recommended Posts