Deep Griha Society, Pune, India

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DISHA (Deep Griha's Integrated Service for HIV & AIDS)

22 July 2007

Deep Griha volunteers visit Sangham

On Monday 4 June Hans Billimoria along with a group of volunteers from Deep Griha Society, visited Sangham in Pune, a world centre for the Girl Guides Association.

This visit was organised in order to further DISHA's mission regarding raising awareness of HIV and AIDS as well as reinforcing the importance of being 'positive' about the virus.

During the afternoon Hans did a presentation which centred on the four means of HIV transmission as well as reinforcing the myths that surround it. However, the issue of stigma and the potential damage it can cause to those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS was also highlighted.

This visit as well as many others was in aid of of the 'Wake Up Pune' campaign, an idea that involves informing as many different organisations as possible about the physical and emotional aspects of HIV and AIDS in order to persuade them to 'Join the Fight'.

After the presentation was completed the members of the Girl Guides Association were certainly left with a greater knowledge regarding HIV and AIDS as well as a greater will to help combat the powerful stigma that surrounds it.

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Wake Up Pune

Deep Griha Society is a major partner in the Wake Up Pune campaign, which brings together a coalition of NGOs and civil society groups to run city-wide HIV awareness programmes.

The campaign has received significant international coverage and has reflected very positively on Deep Griha Society. DISHA has organised or contributed to many events under the Wake Up Pune banner this year - please visit www.wakeuppune.org for full details about the campaign.

In January 2008, Wake Up Pune was given an award by UNAIDS as recognition for the events organised on World AIDS Day 2007 (1 December). Subsequently, Wake Up Pune was chosen by the World AIDS Campaign to be the key implmenting partner for World AIDS Day India 2008.

In March 2008, the campaign was selected as a finalist for the World Bank-sponsored South Asia Regional Development Marketplace, held at the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai. Grants of $40,000 were on offer for winning projects. Although Wake Up Pune was unsuccessful on this occasion, getting shortlisted was a significant achievement in itself. The event was also a great opportunity to network with other organisations and leading individuals working in the field of HIV & AIDS.