Charity World Vision launches its 24 hour famine today, aimed at raising funds to help children and others in the commercial sex trade.
The annual event will this year aim to raise funds for children in Jaipur, India. The World Vision 24 Hour Famine is a fundraising event held around the world, mainly involving young people who raise money to support projects overseas to improve the lives of other children in need. The money raised will go toward the Jeevan Asha Healthy Highway Programme, based in Jaipur, India, Rajasthan. It works along a 140km stretch of National Highway-8 where people are at great risk of HIV and AIDS. Between 2 and 5 million long-distance drivers work in India. The Rajnat communities, are traditional sex workers and have established villages along the highway, giving the truckers easy access to their services. Ultimately, both the Rajnat women and the truckers (and consequently their partners and children back in their home communities) are at high risk of becoming HIV positive. World Vision is working with both groups to reduce the risks. There will be seminars and parental groups helping parents discover the truth about HIV and AIDS as well as the importance of education in their children