“Red Ribbon Club- Dronacharya College of Education, Rait” & “Rotary Club Shahpur” organise a youth festival cum contest to promote open creative dialogue

[RAJESH KUMAR SOOD]

Every day 2,400 young people aged 15 to 24 are infected with HIV around the globe, which represents 40% of all new infections among adults. Hence as a step towards creating an enabling environment of open discussion among youth, “Red Ribbon Club- Dronacharya College of Education, Rait” and “Rotary Club Shahpur” organised a youth festival cum contest to promote open creative dialogue on this sensitive issue under the International Youth Day Campaign. Rtn Sunil Mahajan President of Rotary Club Shahpur shared that the college was abuzz with energy of youth from 10 colleges, youth peer educators were empowered with enhanced knowledge and skills through play way & performing arts.

All participants in the event organised under international youth campaign were pinned a Red Ribbon, the most widely recognized symbol of the AIDS movement - the symbol of unity, courage and determination to get nearer to the zero infection target. Rtn. Yudhvir Singh Chauhan shared that Ignorance equals fear & Silence equals death, as in absence of communication, young people will continue to be at risk of HIV.

On this occasion Dr RK Sood, Distt. AIDS Programme Officer addressing the participants told that “Red Ribbon Club (RRC) ” is an initiative which builds the capacities of Youth as peer educators in spreading messages on positive health behaviour in an enabling environment, harnesses the vibrant potential of the youth- channelizing theenergy of the youth in a positive direction, reduces new HIV infection among youth by raising their risk perception through awareness on Sex, Sexuality and HIV & AIDS and equips them with correct information on HIV/AIDS Prevention and life-skills like leadership, negotiation, communication and team building to cope with stress and build a bring future and career.

In the song completion, Shakuntla from Sahran College bagged the first prize with her song perofmace Zindagi Zindabaad, Swati From Awasthi college  was close second, followed by Amit from Gyan Jyoti College who presented folk song. Youth depicted high level of zeal and commitment to the cause.

The best dance performance was adjudged as Sikrandra and Rohit from Dronacahrya College college who gave scintillating performance on “Main to teri chahat mein” in red and black costume. Meenakshi and Seema of Sahran college who gave dance performance on reaction to HIV status on the lyrics “ Maula Mere”_ and using face painting of college were ranked second; while the teams of Madhuri & Swati from Awasthi College of Education who performed on “Maula mere” using HIV message props & Meenkashi and kalpana of Gyan Jyoti College were jointly ranked third.

Nodal officer of the club Charu Kaushal added that many young people do not feel comfortable talking to old people about HIV & AIDS & instead prefer to listen to fellow young people. Peer educators Badal and Prashant  stated that “recognising the role frank & open discussions can help in addressing the problem of HIV & AIDS among the youth, we promote dialogue among young people so that they are empowered with life-skills to protect themselves against STI, HIV & AIDS”.

GS Pahania MD Dronachaya College added that access to HIV/AIDS prevention is fundamental human right for which the youth peer educators of the RRC are acting as catalysts and agent of change. Maan Singh Maan  judgethrilled the audience with folk song perofmance. Mr Sunil Faculty from Sahran College of Education presented a Punjabi Song.

The UNAIDS vision is “Getting to Zero” - Zero new HIV infections among Youth by 2015. BS Pathania Executive Director of the college state that the motto of the youth in modern era should be “Be Smart- protect yourself”. Rtn Saurabh Mhajan, Rtn Amit Sharma Director Club Services, Vinay Sharma Mrs Anita Chandel Principal, Desh Raj , Sumit Sharma and rotracters were also present on the occasion.