Blast From The Past: AIDS Aware

In a country like Malaysia, raising awareness and understanding surrounding HIV / AIDS is of paramount importance. Few people genuinely understand, or choose to engage in dialogue about the subject, as it is view as “not their problem” or a disease only associated with groups consistently marginalised in society. Well people, it is not! And, it is ever increasingly important to get people engaged with the topic, to both reduce the stigma, but to also raise awareness of how to protect ourselves from contracting the disease.

Every year, Orchan’s Directors choose a charity or public awareness campaign for which they are passionate, as one of our ways of giving back to, and contributing further to society. In 2010, this was AIDS Aware – an impactful pro-bono project to spread awareness of issues surrounding AIDS and to educate people to be better and more accurately informed. The AIDS Aware Campaign was a joint project between Orchan and three partner organisations, in support of fundraising and educational initiatives by Malaysia’s PT Foundation. With the theme of “Be The Message”, the campaign started off as a simple calendar to be sold, involving a few local celebrities; but soon steamrolled to 42 local Celebs offering their support through images, videos, interviews, and education opportunities, followed up by an entire media and advertising campaign.

All proceeds raised were used to fund and expand PT Foundation’s programmes in offering food, shelter, care and support to marginalised communities, and to serve, educate, and support the people who are most at risk of HIV in Malaysia.