Young people raise funds for Mangalore YMCA

12 May 2009

For the past two years, Halton YMCA in North West England have been working with Y Care International and Cosmopolitan Housing Association in Liverpool to raise funds to support an HIV/AIDS orphanage run by Y Care International partner, Mangalore YMCA.

Back in January, a group of young people from Halton visited Mangalore YMCA’s orphanage in India, which cares for children who have been orphaned to HIV or are infected with HIV. During their visit, the group found out at first hand the reality for young people living with HIV/AIDS in Mangalore.

When they returned to the UK, the group shared their experiences with their peers at Halton YMCA and with the local community, even featuring in Big Issue and on Radio Merseyside.

Inspired by their time in Mangalore, the young people have started a large-scale fundraising project. They have set up a fundraising group and have been busy organising activities, including a car boot sale and a celebration night which raised £500. They have also organised a 42-mile sponsored walk around Lake Windermere at the end of May. Thanks to donations of free food and accommodation from YMCA Lakeside, the group hope to raise a significant amount of money, as well as awareness of what they are doing.

“Things have started to take off now so we are just going with the flow to see where it takes us,” said Damien, one of the organisers.
 
The group have even written a song about their experiences in Mangalore and have begun canvassing for sponsors, as well as gaining more air-time with local radio stations.

The money they raise will pay for essential treatment for the children and young people at the orphanage which was set up by Mangalore YMCA in 2003.