World AIDS Day Ideas

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and its base virus HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) are responsible for over 40 million deaths in the last 26 years. Found in every country of the world, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the largest pandemics in human history.

Every year on December 1st, people from all over the world spend the day learning, sharing knowledge with others, strategizing, and encouraging the millions of people around the world suffering from HIV/AIDS.

The slogan for World AIDS Day through 2010 is “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.” The promises referred to by the event organizers are those made by people and countries. The promises we respond to, as God’s people, are those God has given us in scripture and that are etched throughout the history of the church. Promises to relieve the burden of the oppressed and bring healing to those broken and diseased.

So how can you and your students participate in World AIDS Day this year?  Here’s a few ideas:

-wear a red ribbon in solidarity with AIDS victims and activists everywhere. to order in bulk and share with others, you can get them cheap from:
http://www.ribbonfactory.com/html/awareness_ribbons.html

-post a piece on your blog in the days prior to or the day of World AIDS Day (December 1st)

-have an informal gathering of friends over coffee to talk about AIDS and its consequences

-choose a charity to give a special donation to. Several good ones include:
http://www.engagehivaids.com
http://www.wr.org
http://www.worldvision.org/aoa.nsf/aids/home

-use the email signature here as your default email signature for the next several weeks. or use it as your facebook profile picture.

-check in on http://bejustice.blogspot.com for a daily resource/thought/action

-spend personal time in prayer for those with AIDS and those helping them.

-work with your church or school to have some sort of AIDS educational experience.

-contribute your own ideas to the comments of this post.  what have you done/are you doing to encourage students to think globally in this area?

World Aids Day Ribbon