Yesterday's blog mentioned the May 7 Coalition which has put together a list of activities recommended for World AIDS Orphans Day. If no formal events are taking place near you, here are some of their ideas you can use to involve yourself, your family and your community in this global occasion ...

you can spend your 7th of May:

Creating a Circle of Hope:

Gather a group of friends, people interested in raising awareness about World AIDS Orphans Day, an after school club, or youth group. Find a place to hold your circle of hope, and get candles to hold during the ceremony. Invite family, friends, like-minded groups and people; contact your local government officials and the media. Decide a place and time to hold your circle and encourage people to share stories, poetry, artwork, or thoughts on how AIDS is affecting children all over the world.

Planting a Tree of Hope:

First find a park or other public space and get permission to plant a tree. Invite a well-known public official, such as your mayor, or governor, the president of your town council, or even the principal of your school to plant the tree with you or your group. Raise money to buy a small plaque to explain the significance of your tree. Contact local media to advertise your event as well as be there to cover it.

Writing a letter to the government:

Contact your Federal, state and local officials and urge them to support/continue to support aid programs and funding in regions affected by AIDS. Bring to their attention World AIDS Orphans Day and persuade them to make a public declaration of support or attend an event.

Writing a letter to your town or school newspaper:

Write a letter to your town or school newspaper explaining to them the issues surrounding children orphaned by AIDS.

Here are some doing something in the L.A. area:

WHAT: World AIDS Orphans Day - Circle of Hope

WHEN: May 7, 2006, 12 noon- 3 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday May 14th)

WHERE: Santa Monica State Beach

WHO: One Global Tribe, NextAID, PEP-LA and a growing coalition - May 7 Coalition, sponsoring organization Francois Xavier-Bagnoud Association.

WHY: To foster more unity amongst Los Angeles-based organizations that work with HIV /AIDS outreach and education and to take a positive stand on behalf of AIDS Orphans around the world. This event is meant to bring together our community in Los Angeles -- men, women, youth, teachers, elected representatives- to inspire us all to do whatever we can at an individual level to improve the situation both locally and globally.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

PLEASE join local organizations to to mark the 5th World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD) across 5 continents, in partnership with international organizations, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Association (FXB), Global Action for Children (GAC), PLAN USA and African Regional Youth Initiative (ARYI).

Activities will include music, speakers, creative activities for teens, drumming and the formation of a large CIRCLE OF HOPE at the beach in Santa Monica.

Aerial photographs by artist, John Quigley, will picture leaders from non-governmental and international organizations, women's organizations and youth, linking arms and spelling the word "HOPE" on behalf of orphans affected by AIDS globally.

The resulting images will launch a public awareness campaign urging other cities to take action, and will send the message that Los Angeles stands in solidarity with regions most heavily affected by AIDS and with the world's most vulnerable population - AIDS Orphans- of whom there be an estimated 100 million by 2010.

Please join us on May 7 for World AIDS Orphans Day, CIRCLE OF HOPE, and help us to meet these goals:

(1) Launch May 7 Coalition in Los Angeles, a coalition dedicated to supporting local World AIDS Orphans Day activities each year in solidarity with international partners.

(2) Urge mayors and elected officials- guarantors of the Rights of the Child in their districts- to sign a proclamation recognizing World AIDS Orphans Day and the objectives set out in the 2001 United Nations Declaration of Commitments on HIV/AIDS (212 Elected Representatives from 182 cities have already joined us so far)

(3) Create a forum for youth to galvanize their communities and the media (support youth-led solutions to HIV/AIDS)

(4) Form a "CIRCLE OF HOPE" to celebrate life and to send a message of solidarity to other vulnerable communities around the world.

Will you have anything like this going on where you are? If so, please stop by and join in the hope. If not, have your own circle, plant your own tree, and plan to include more people next year.

Comments or questions? Shy? E-mail me ... intladoptionblog@adoptionmail.com