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The Care and Support Network was a project run by Blossom Trust, supported by PWDS Alliance. We offered care and support to HIV/AIDS infected individuals and their family members, children support groups, PLHA support groups, the education committee, SHGs, Wise team and children's club. Blossom had been working with more than 1000 families affected by HIV/AIDS for over 7 years, in five blocks: Virudhunagar Watrap Sattur Kariappatti Sivakasi Project duration: 2009-2011

On December 1 we observe World AIDS Day. This year Blossom organized a signature campaign in Virudhunagar. This day was a joined initiative with the district collector office. The municipal chairman (left on the picture above) participated in our event. In front of our makeshift tent, big crowds gathered to get more information about our work with HIV/AIDS. The theme of this years World AIDS Day was ''leadership'' as part of the ''Keep the promise'' campaign. The campaign was designed to urge leaders to put all their efforts towards treating and eradicating HIV and AIDS. At the end of the day the signatures were presented to collector. Project duration: 2007

During International Women's Day 2005, Blossom took to the streets of Virudhunagar to organize a women's rally. In total 5000 women attended. During the day the women marched through Virudhunagar to encourage the government to put women rights first. About 95% of the women came from the fireworks industry in the region. Many of the women wanted to become part of local women self-help groups. However, their supervisors did not allow them to take time off to attend the meetings the self-help groups organize. During the International Women's Day 2005, we advocated together to the owners of the firework industries to allow women to be able to become part of self-help groups. Many women were allowed by local bus drivers to take the bus to the rally for free. The media was drawn to our event and covered the rally in local and regional newspapers. The day was concluded with a public meeting where the importance of inclusive policies were discussed. Our event alerted the local government and made them take action. The district collector, who is a woman, was present during the rally. Project duration: 2005

Part of the Family Counseling Centre project, which ran from 1999 to 2013 was the Women Advisory Counsel. Our counselors attend the family related cases in the Virudhunagar AWPS every Monday. A male counselor joins the Police Mobile counselling team to villages on every Monday evening. Having both a male and female counselor can help with the family dispute. Part of the Family Counseling Centre project, which ran from 1999 to 2013 was the Women Advisory Counsel. Our counselors attend the family-related cases in the Virudhunagar AWPS every Monday. A male counselor joins the Police Mobile counselling team to villages on every Monday evening. Having both a male and female counselor can help with the family dispute. Project duration: 2010-2012

During International Women's Day 2007 Blossom held a signature campaign. During the campaign we advocated for more inclusive policies and urged our leaders to not exclude women. The municipal chairman joined us during the day and she inaugurated the signature campaign. During the day we went through Virudhunagar to collect signatures. At the end of the day the signatures were presented to district collector at the end of the day. Project duration: 2007

Part of our CEPT project was to raise awareness during World TB Day 2012. Our slogan for the day was ''Stop TB In My Life Time''. Activities During the day our team visited the Sri Vidya College of Engineering in Virudhunagar. The State Minister of Information and Special Schemes was the chief guest. The importance of addressing the issues faced by people living with TB were discussed during the meeting. Together with our partner organization Rainbow TB Forum, we presented the State Minister with a grievance letter from people affected by TB. The minister stated that he would take necessary action on the grievance letter and that he will provide possible support to the effective functioning of the network. The day was concluded successfully. . Project duration: 2012

World Diabetes Day 2012 was observed by Blossom as part of the Axshya project. Diabetes as described by the WHO ''Diabetes is one of the major health and development challenges of the 21st century. It is an incurable, costly, increasing but largely preventable non-communicable disease that affects people of all ages. No country, rich or poor, is immune to the epidemic.'' Axshya for World Diabetes Day 2012 Axshya was a government project to create awareness about TB, with education on how to prevent TB, where to go for treatment and how to deal with discrimination. As people with diabetes have a higher risk of contracting TB, the diseases are closely related. For World Diabetes Day 2012 we therefore went into the community to educate people about the signs of diabetes, as well as how to live with diabetes. Project duration: 2012