Prior to World AIDS Day, World Vision will host a global vigil to raise awareness about the estimated 6,000 children who lose a parent to AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses every day. When children lose their parents, especially at the soaring rates reported in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and elsewhere, they become increasingly vulnerable to poverty, loss of education opportunities, child labour, exploitation, and often, HIV infection themselves.

The global vigil will begin in Toronto, Canada and continue westward to more than 17 cities worldwide during the 24 hours between 9 a.m. EST Thursday, November 29 and 9 a.m. EST Friday, November 30.

During each event, participants will read aloud the names of several hundred children who have lost parents to AIDS or AIDS-related illnesses. By the final event on Friday morning, the last of 6,000 names will be read, symbolizing the number of children who will have lost a parent to AIDS-related illnesses that day.

Vigil events will be held in the following locations:

New Global Ipsos Reid poll measures attitudes on AIDS
On November 29, World Vision will issue its first Attitudes Index on AIDS. This first index will reflect the attitudes about the global AIDS crisis among populations in seven of the world’s wealthiest countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The index will be compiled based on the results of a survey.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos Reid Public Affairs on behalf of World Vision, will measure levels of compassion in these countries toward those who are affected by AIDS. World Vision and other advocacy organizations can use these results to learn where more education and awareness is needed.