1998-2005 ABF partnered with Y-Care International in their HIV-Aids awareness programme in India, promoted by several local YMCA's

In the late 1990's India feared an Aids pandemic on the scale of what was happening in Africa. Local YMCA's supported by Y-Care and ABF started a programme of safe practice education aimed at the most vulnerable in the community, including lorry drivers, migrant workers, sex workers and young people in general.

Fortunately the feared pandemic never came to pass on the scale of Africa's. Nonetheless thousands of young lives were lost. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject, it was not easy for Y-Care to raise funds but ABF supported them throughout the eight year period of the programme.

We visited Nagpur and Mangalore YMCA's.

Below - Mangalore YMCA arranged street theatre to teach the dangers of Aids to often illiterate onlookers.

Below - Aids orphans are cared for by one of YMCA's sister organisations.

Below - A spokesperson for Mangalore sex workers speaks about the measures they are adopting to prevent infection.

Below - Nagpur YMCA - at a migrant worker camp where young workers from other parts of India are housed, three shifts to a bed. Amongst them there was a widespread fear of Aids but little practical knowledge, an issue YMCA addressed through lectures and question and answer sessions.

Below - High school students stage a short play to explain the dangers of HIV-Aids to their colleagues.