On with the Dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 20th!
The day began bright and early as we began the search for a dvd player and tv to play hindi HIV clips at the days Wake Up Pune programme. An easy enough task, but to find a dvd player, television and tv and all 3 to work together at 8 am proved to be a fun task. I climbed over mountains of toys for tots boxes, tried to plug 8 different coloured cables into 6 holes and remove the tv from the cultural centre before mandas face turned completely green, all to the the theme tune of the french guy humming indiana jones.
But by 10 am everything was set up at INOX and the day was running well. A kiosk providing information, PLHIV handmade gifts, charity wristbands and quizzes was set up. Three huge banners where laid on the ground to allow people to leave messages and signatures to show their support for the cause. "Unite & Fight against HIV", "Ordinary people, Extraordinary will", "Lets all take precautions for a better tomorrow" "Don't just Do IT (followed by a Nike tick)" and "For all the people who don't wear a condom- Happy Fathers Day!"
The Sahara team brought in the crowds as they performed their street play to a lively audience and Ashtads performance kept the day flowing and the crowds happy. A movie poster competition was set up for the kids to design their own superhero to fight HIV. Condomans appeared along with hundreds of spidermans from the kids who had just come out of their movies.
Later on in the afternoon we distributed quizzes to the movie goers and in my best Indian English I went through the answers to make sure everyone had the correct answers. "There are only FOUR ways!!" Balloons where distributed to the kids and they left happily with their lollies, their parents only slightly confused about the images of condoman appearing on the red heart shaped balloons. From 10 till 4 there was a constant buzz of excitement thanks to the keen team of volunteers (and the free ice cafe mochas from Barrista) and the event was a success.
However the Highlight of the day was definitely the MG road rally. The purpose of the day was to Light Up Pune and thats what we did. Familiar faces from Tadiwala RD and Ramtekedi all congregated at the end of MG road where hundreds of banners in Marathi, Hindi and English where distributed to the crowd. Satyaam volunteers stopped the traffic with "There are only 4 ways" stop signs as we all shouted cheers of "WAKE UP PUNE!" "YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!".
As we arrived at the MG road stage the sun was begining to set and many of us where feeling weary. Families sat down around the stage and as the music began candles showing the "disha" ribbon where distributed among the enormous crowd. As everyone joined together for the minutes silence, the point of the day was highlighted by the thousands of shining flames.
After the rememberence there was entertainment from Blue Mist, Indian Idol celebrities and Ashtad and his band. However, the Stars of the show where definitely the Disha kids! The giggling girls where dressed in matching white skirts and bright tops, while the cool boys stood in their fresh new jeans and enormous cool ties.
Their dance was amazing and they all lit up the stage. By the end the entire Disha team where up on the stage Rock and Rolling along with them and their excitement and success definitely shone through leaving behind the message for the day, On With The Dance.
by Katie
The day began bright and early as we began the search for a dvd player and tv to play hindi HIV clips at the days Wake Up Pune programme. An easy enough task, but to find a dvd player, television and tv and all 3 to work together at 8 am proved to be a fun task. I climbed over mountains of toys for tots boxes, tried to plug 8 different coloured cables into 6 holes and remove the tv from the cultural centre before mandas face turned completely green, all to the the theme tune of the french guy humming indiana jones.
But by 10 am everything was set up at INOX and the day was running well. A kiosk providing information, PLHIV handmade gifts, charity wristbands and quizzes was set up. Three huge banners where laid on the ground to allow people to leave messages and signatures to show their support for the cause. "Unite & Fight against HIV", "Ordinary people, Extraordinary will", "Lets all take precautions for a better tomorrow" "Don't just Do IT (followed by a Nike tick)" and "For all the people who don't wear a condom- Happy Fathers Day!"
The Sahara team brought in the crowds as they performed their street play to a lively audience and Ashtads performance kept the day flowing and the crowds happy. A movie poster competition was set up for the kids to design their own superhero to fight HIV. Condomans appeared along with hundreds of spidermans from the kids who had just come out of their movies.
Later on in the afternoon we distributed quizzes to the movie goers and in my best Indian English I went through the answers to make sure everyone had the correct answers. "There are only FOUR ways!!" Balloons where distributed to the kids and they left happily with their lollies, their parents only slightly confused about the images of condoman appearing on the red heart shaped balloons. From 10 till 4 there was a constant buzz of excitement thanks to the keen team of volunteers (and the free ice cafe mochas from Barrista) and the event was a success.
However the Highlight of the day was definitely the MG road rally. The purpose of the day was to Light Up Pune and thats what we did. Familiar faces from Tadiwala RD and Ramtekedi all congregated at the end of MG road where hundreds of banners in Marathi, Hindi and English where distributed to the crowd. Satyaam volunteers stopped the traffic with "There are only 4 ways" stop signs as we all shouted cheers of "WAKE UP PUNE!" "YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!".
As we arrived at the MG road stage the sun was begining to set and many of us where feeling weary. Families sat down around the stage and as the music began candles showing the "disha" ribbon where distributed among the enormous crowd. As everyone joined together for the minutes silence, the point of the day was highlighted by the thousands of shining flames.
After the rememberence there was entertainment from Blue Mist, Indian Idol celebrities and Ashtad and his band. However, the Stars of the show where definitely the Disha kids! The giggling girls where dressed in matching white skirts and bright tops, while the cool boys stood in their fresh new jeans and enormous cool ties.
Their dance was amazing and they all lit up the stage. By the end the entire Disha team where up on the stage Rock and Rolling along with them and their excitement and success definitely shone through leaving behind the message for the day, On With The Dance.
by Katie
posted by Deep Griha at 10:42 pm
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