18 May, International AIDS Candlelight Memorial day

On 18 May, International AIDS Candlelight Memorial day, Armenian Red Cross Society organized a candlelight march. Red Cross Youth 60 volunteers were participating in that march. It started at 18:30 from the ARCS headquarters and proceeded by the following direction:

Paronyan Str. – Mashtots Ave. – Amiryan Str. – Republic Square – Abovyan Str. – North Ave. – Sayat-Nova Str. - Garden at the State Conservatory named after Komitas.

At 20:00, Candlelight ceremony, accompanied by classical music, took place at the Garden of State Conservatory named after Komitas.

Besides the candlelight ceremony there were also:

• Informative pavilion - where ARCS volunteers were disseminating the meaning of the day, by providing passers with leaflets about HIV/AIDS issues. They were encouraging them to wear red ribbons and to participate in all events that are taking place in other pavilions.
• Quilt pavilion – where participants got the Quilt, by connecting the parts of the blankets, each part of which was dedicated to one AIDS victim.
•  Discussion pavilion - where participants were given an opportunity to express their opinions, summarize the information and impressions received during the day.

The event ended at 21:30.

On 18 May, all around the world candles were lit for the 31^st time, in the memory of the AIDS victims. It is a call to come together for the fight against HIV / AIDS and to honor the dignity of people living with HIV. This ceremony has a great importance for the commemoration of the victims of HIV, for the support of people living with HIV and for raising awareness about HIV / AIDS.