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 Dramataic Square to Vardanants 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. This year students from 11 communities of Shirak Region, who are trained with Peer-to-peer methodology, also joined the event by organizing quizes and candle ligthing in their communities as well.

The project is implemented jointly with Ukraine and Georgia and is funded by Caritas Austria (Innsbruck) and Austrian Development Agency.