Time to show you care

As we wrap up another year and look forward to holidays away with friends and family, there is a day in December that’s worth remembering. It’s not a public holiday, there’s no white haired men in red suits, and no countdown to midnight, it’s December 1 – World Aids Day.

This year the theme focuses on taking action against discrimination. With this in mind, let’s not forget, HIV does not discriminate, affecting the lives of millions of people everyday. Women, men, children, gay, straight, single, married, young and old of all ages and backgrounds are affected. We need to continue to be mindful about HIV in order to work towards reducing stigma and discrimination.

AIDS Awareness Week culminates in the annual global event, World AIDS Day on Wednesday, December 1. In Australia, HIV infections continue to occur and we are urging all Australians to remember that prevention is everybody’s business.

It has been 28 years since the identification of HIV, yet people living with HIV/AIDS still face barriers accessing healthcare services, accommodation and travel as well as prejudice within the work environment and wider communities.

As young and open minded people, we play a vital role in reducing the barriers faced by many. This year, Twenty10 is also celebrating 28 years of service provision, and we are taking action through working closely with those organisations who know the HIV and AIDS epidemics the best and by connecting them to our young people through a dinner at our centre in Newtown this evening.

On World AIDS Day young people are being asked to raise awareness and show their support by attending a World AIDS Day event or by wearing a red ribbon –  the international symbol of AIDS awareness.

What will you be doing?

info: Iain Kaan is a Board Member of the Twenty10 Association. http://www.twenty10.org.au/about-twenty10