World AIDS Day – with a difference

“Maam, yahan par log hamari baat sunte hain”, (Madam, people are listening to us here) said one community leader from Smile Foundation. The gesture showed that girls who did not even have the courage to speak before 10 people are performing a play of HIV/AIDS in an all male gathering. And the advocacy campaign was before more than 500 employees of Delhi Metro Railway Corporation in Shastri Park and Connaught Place in New Delhi.

Delhi Metro Railway Corporation invited Smile Foundation community leaders, all girls, to celebrate WORLD HIV/AIDS DAY on December 1, 2008. Community Leaders from “Swabhiman” – the girl child empowerment programme form Smile Foundation - performed a street play in two DMRC stations. The play which showed how the lifestyle of a migrant labourer is more prone to infections like HIV/AIDS was well received by the employees of DMRC.

Not only did they watch, but they appreciated the act apart from raising a lot of queries. Their queries were answered to perfect satisfaction by Smile representatives. However, DMRC felt that the change in attitude and thinking of employees would not happen in one day. Therefore, both DMRC and Smile Foundation decided that there is a need for concentrated efforts as far as sensitizing employees of DMRC on HIV/AIDS is concerned.

Nevertheless, it is a one step ahead as male involvement was a high point because here, it was an all male gathering listening and an all female gathering performing. That is how SMILE FOUNDATION made a difference on the occasion of 20th WORLD HIV-AIDS DAY.