Dear Friends,
On behalf of the members and friends of Shanker Foundation, I request you to please join in a global solidarity event that is held each year toremember victims of HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness. This event is held on the third Sunday of May each year and this year it falls on the 20th of May.

We invite you to commemorate this day with us as an act of solidarity with the larger International AIDSCandlelight Memorial event. We urge you to hold prayers and encourage communitydialogue focused on the care and societal support needs of People Living withHIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
We also invite you to join community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and others at the Candlelight Memorial to be held in Chowrasta, Darjeeling and in Kurseong on the 20th of May, 2012 at 4 pm.

The global theme for this year is “Promoting Health and Dignity Together”. The memorial is not just for all the people who have died but also for those who are living with HIV/AIDS. We would like you to reach out to those living with HIV/AIDS and help them to lead a healthy life along with dignity.We have a culture of supporting each other and the time is now to embracepeople living with HIV/AIDS in the Darjeeling Hills and break down the walls of stigma and discrimination.

We thank you for your support and solidarity for the memorial and look forward to your continued support inthe fight against HIV/AIDS and stigma it needlessly carries.

Yours sincerely,
Hari