Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO)

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World Leprosy Day 2009

AIFO Thanks all partners for the success of 56th World Leprosy Day celebrations

On 24 and 25 January 2009 , thousands of volunteers from AIFO groups as well as, from a large number of other organisations from all over Italy contributed to great success of the initiatives related to the celebrations of 56^th World Leprosy Day.

In 950 city squares, ranging from big metros like Rome , Naples and Bologna , to numerous tiny towns far away in the mountains and countrysides, more than 4,000 volunteers set up stalls with bottles of  “Honey of Solidarity”, to collect funds and to create awareness about leprosy. This year’s fund collections from the Honey initiative will go for leprosy control work in India .

Honey of Solidarity initiative received active participation from organisations like Ethical Bank, National Association of Medical Students (SISM), National Association of Guides and Scouts (AGESCI), etc. News and information about this initiative was given on all national TV channels.

A very special partner of this year’s World Leprosy Day campaign was the support from the Italian National Association of Football coaches of A and B series of matches. All football stadiums on the WLD weekend carried the AIFO banners for creating awareness about leprosy. This received widespread TV coverage.

His Holy Father the Pope sent a message of best wishes for all the leprosy affected persons and AIFO collaborated with the Vatican news agency to prepare information about the present situation of leprosy in the different parts of the world.

President of Italy Mr. Giorgio Napolitano expressed his support to AIFO through a telegram.

The AIFO poster for this WLD was a contribution of the Brand Portal marketing consulting agency. This poster showing a Greek statue published free of cost by magazines and newspapers provoked strong reactions and heated debates about the opportunity of using such images. At the same time, general public and press also expressed appreciation for this campaign.

A TV advertisement based on the same concept was also produced that received lot of positive press.

During the month of January 2009, 4 persons representing different projects (Dr Alice Joseph from Kochi India, Sr Leela from MOB leprosy and CBR project Mandya, Fr Carlo Torriani from Mumbai Lok Seva Sangam and Sr Marcela Lopez from Ituri in Democratic Republic of Congo) were in Italy to participate in public meetings and other initiatives organised by different AIFO groups.

AIFO wishes to thank all the partner organisations, all the supporters and volunteers for their support for the World Leprosy Day 2009.

For more information please contact AIFO at info@aifo.it or call us at (+39) 051-4393.211