Within the framework of “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Support in the Post-Soviet Countries” Project an information event, a flash mob and candle lighting was organized in Gyumri for the International AIDS Memorial Day. Young people added the pieces to the traditional AIDS quilt and the interested passers-by approaching the AIDS awareness symbol ribbon-stand pinned small red ribbons on it to commemorate those who died of AIDS. After they started a march with candles from Vardanants Square to Dramataic Square.

AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place every 3rd Sunday in May, however it’s not mere Memorial Day but also a community grassroots movement to end the HIV epidemic. It aims at raising social consciousness on HIV/AIDS.
The protagonist of the day was the “Youth Club” of the Project which is a key component in the realization of the event. It includes schoolchildren and young people coming from the rural communities of Shirak Region who have been trained as “Peer-to-peer” educators and then as “Youth Club” facilitators.
The project is implemented jointly with Ukraine and Georgia and is funded by Caritas Austria (Innsbruck) and Austrian Development Agency.