B'Care

B'Care
"Caring for HIVers"
Registered Internationally, www.bcareindia.org

Dear Comrades

The "AIDS RIDE 2008" welcomes the global community to participate in the bike marathon for a noble cause to fight HIV/AIDS that is killing us, our friends, relatives and family members etc, every SECOND! "Everyone in this world is affected by HIV". We need your support. Please wake up and join us in this spectacular event and make it successful.

The "AIDS RIDE 2008" bike ride from “Toronto, Canada to Mexico City, Mexico, bridging GAP amidst the 2 International AIDS Conferences with a mission to re-remind the world, their promises and commitments made to combat the pandemic in the global community. The aim of AIDS RIDE 2008 is basically HIV/AIDS awareness and education. The fundraising is secondary, where the money raised shall be used again for the "AIDS RIDE 2010" and for Universal Access for Treatment, Care and Support. For more details please check the official website www.aidsride2008.org and also  http://noumads.tripod.com/

http://www.unitamil.com/show_video.php?video_id=OrgE6JTW3Yg

http://aidsride2008.blogspot.com/

http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/ElFinanciero/Portal/cfpages/contentmgr.cfm?docId=135738&docTipo=1&orderby=docid&sortby=ASC

http://www.aki.com.mx/noticias_y_eventos/salud/pedalearon_dos_hindues_de_toronto_al_df_para_luchar_contra_el_sida_recorrieron_unos_tres_mil_900_kilometros_en_bicicletas_por_martin_takagui

This is the latest Initiative that B’Care Canada took. An ensuing event unveiled on World AIDS Day 2006, AIDS RIDE 2008, in association with Bike Riders Foundation, Canada and Ja In Us Arts, Canada, is organizing a bike ride from Toronto to Mexico. Check:  http://noumads.tripod.com/  for more details.

B'Care Cultural Initiative:
B'Care also uses performing arts as a weapon in the battle of HIV/AIDS conducting instrumental, acting or singing performances in the meetings or seminars that can tone the concept of "Positive Living", create an impact on the public or address the general issues confronted by PLWHA. A Cultural performance in the Rouxa IAC, Barcelona and selection in the ICAAP, Kobe. Submitted in the Toronto 2006 Cultural Activity Program, CAP.

B'Care aventuras Iniciativa: Guts importa!
Esta es la última iniciativa que tomó B'Care Canadá. Un caso que se dio a conocer el Día Mundial del SIDA de 2006, el SIDA RIDE 2008, en asociación con la Fundación Bike Riders, Canadá y Ja En nosotros Artes, Canadá, está organizando un viaje en bicicleta desde Toronto a Mexico. Marque: http://noumads.tripod.com/ para más detalles.

B'Care iniciativa cultural:
B'Care también utiliza las artes escénicas como un arma en la lucha del VIH / SIDA la realización de instrumental, el canto o la actuación en las reuniones o seminarios que pueden tono el concepto de "Vida Positiva", crear un impacto en el público o en la dirección general de la Problemas enfrentados por las PVVS. Un rendimiento de la Cultura en el CAI Rouxa, Barcelona y la selección en el ICAAP, Kobe. Presentada en el 2006 Toronto Actividad Cultural Program, CAP

B'Care Pediatric Initiative:
B'Care is providing the basics needs for 4 HIV affected kids, 2 girls and 2 boys, who lost their father to AIDS and are raised by the widow mothers, who are also supported by B’Care with basic employment/ B'Care Small Scale Business Initiative to adhere positive living.

B'Care Youth Force:
BYF is a positional group of the youth community.
B'Care youth network is working for youth communities fro “better lives” in our state or local areas. BYF follows the guidelines of the Global Youth Action Network and Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

B'Care Small Scale Business Initiative (BSSBI):
In our community, 80% of the total infected women we encounter are young widows who are HIV+, and whose husbands died of AIDS. The women are usually disowned and thrown out on the street. B'Care SSBI’s objective is to provide these women with shelter and simple work like tailoring and candle making. The profits that BSSB Initiative makes from these activities are used for the maintenance of the project.  In this way BSSB Initiative can support HIV+ widows and their kids or orphan kids, with a meager salary under employment basis. B'Care also empowers the same women to confront conflict in the gender equity.
(The initiative was started recently and it is in its growth phase).  

B'Care Network of Positive People (BNP+):
An in-house network that enables HIV victim to get together with common agenda of positive living.  BNP+ gives free membership to all PLWHA.  We have a database of all the BNP+ members in order to involve them in all the HIV/AIDS activities. BNP+ has a self-help group formation for married women or widows, who also participate in managing such projects like candle making or tailoring projects. BNP+ members are guided to government hospitals, counseled at times and taken care or monitored under ARV medications and nutritional supplements.

All the above initiatives and efforts addressing different issues of HIV/AIDS have created a good impact on the public.  The main goal is always to make and pass along the message on AIDS/HIV.  This could help us get rid of discrimination, negligence and ignorance of people towards the disease. Various educational activities also helped the community to come forward for the STI check up, HIV testing and attend counseling.

Overall, 80% of our effort is dedicated towards prevention activities, 10% towards research and 10% towards care and support.

Community Empowerment:
Our initiatives have varied impacts because we have targeted communities in different way and with different interventions. We target the certain communities in certain tailor made intervention that suits perfectly, the system. This attracts people to come and get involved with B'Care’s fight against HIV/AIDS.  Places that we concentrate on are the poor communities with a high percentage of PLWHA, waste pickers, beggars and prostitutes.  One of our projects was “Slum Talk AIDS”, at Nandanavanam that included Burrakathas (stories in a form of songs), folk dance, etc.  It was very successful and greatly appreciated by the locals and is just one example of effectiveness of our projects that are made with strategic planning.  The response of the locals to the project was tremendous.  The attraction of the event pulled together many groups that are usually separated and encouraged them to work together and get equally involved by learning and dissemination of the messages addressed. Our deep involvement with such marginalized communities is also significantly reciprocated by these communities which is the answer to the success of our mission.

B’Care’s  initiatives empower the communities and their marginalized groups to take action by understanding their role in the society or their community. They learn about issues that are conflict and usually very complicated and how to confront them and take actions against them to improve their lives in the community. For example gender inequity is a major concern in the area of Nandanavanam.  Male dominance, which is common issue, usually leads to the great exploitation of women. Our community participation and peer education empowers them to reduce such incidences.

Greater involvement and empowerment of PLWHA (GIPA):
B'Care is totally dedicated to HIVers. This fundamental principle has an urge to involve PLWHA in all the activities, events, programs, projects etc. There is no single event of B'Care without the participation of PLWHA.

Moreover, our BNP+ is very active in registering as many PLWHA as possible.  This enables PLWHA to take the lead roles coordinating the activities or organizing various events.  This is a kind of encouragement that keeps people dedicated to the community HIV/AIDS prevention projects.  BNP+ leaders are always included in the decision making.  Their roles in all the projects and activities are as important as any B’Care member’s.  In turn the BNP+ representatives believe in mobilizing the PLWHA. The BNP+ network is taught of the current global issues. B'Care hones their skill to confront and fight for the justice. This is the way the PLWHA are empowered under BNP+.

Sustainability and Action at Scale:
Yes, B'Care prevention activities demonstrate sustainability in many routes. For instance, B'Care organized the mural project "beautiful struggle", an International project signifies one of the MDGs, HIV/AIDS, did a mural on the Osmania Govt. Hospital entrance, where daily thousands of people and PLWHA watch it and carry the message with them. This project as such is something perpetual. Similarly our International peace tiles project, address the issues of the HIV/AIDS, has sustainability because the Tiles are permanent at the place where pasted. Another example our Candle making and Tailoring project is a sustainable projects where we recycle the profits for support of HIV+ widows and infected and affected kids. The other activities that are pretty common, like awareness program can be reproduced as and when needed by repeating at the same or different places more innovatively and interestingly.

Gender Equality:
This is a very important issue and a common problem in developing countries.  B'Care believes in equal roles of both male and female members in planning or implementation of any HIV/AIDS projects.  By giving men and women equal tasks in planning and directing our projects we send a strong message to the public about gender equality.  However, there is a great imbalance in the social systems of India and gender equality is proving to be one of the most difficult obstacles we are facing.  The imbalance between men and women in Indian society, especially in poor communities is the reason why B'Care is dedicated to supporting many married women or widows living with HIV/AIDS.

B'Care initiatives helped in empowering the gender equality.  BNP+ of B'Care have a greater contribution in such projects as candle making and tailoring.  Our visual voices depict the message of gender equity and empowerment of widows living with HIV/AIDS in our International Peace tiles, collages and paintings.

Innovation:
B'Care believes in innovative concepts.  The “Fancy Dress” activity which was very popular at the IAC Bangkok is just one example.  Mock agitation for Truth in PEACE i.e., "Satyagraha" Mahatma Is Back In The World To Fight AIDS was created to drag the attention of world leaders on MDG goals and UNGASS declaration of commitment is another example. We strongly believe that our strategies make a difference.

We are one of the few NGOs with multiple strategies and applications but only ONE mission.

Partnerships:
B'Care’s  partnerships included:Network of HIV Positive People, NHP+, Narayana Concept School, Sujatha Institions, A.P. State Junior Doctors Association, APJUDA, Vailankanni Institutions, College of Bed, Disney Minne Grant, Youth Service of America, YSA, USA, St. Peters Charity Group, UK, Osmania Medical Students Association and Development, OMSD, Hyderabad, UN-Habitat, ACTAlive, GYSD, GYCA, ActALIVE, Nigeria, Global Peace Tiles Project, USA AP State AIDS Control Society, HEROES, Bill and Melinda gates etc. are the past partners in our activities. We make strategic alliance with as many partners as possible.

Youth  and Youth Opportunities:
Most of our work target youth allies. We welcome youth participation in all our HIV/AIDS activities or projects.

B'Care is "Bill Clinton Center for AIDS Research & Education” and should not be confused with "Bill Clinton Foundation". We decided to use the name Bill Clinton in our organization because “Bill Clinton" is the spirit and the driving force behind B'Care's existence.
Most of the above events are sponsored by the parents of the trustees -Mrs Kamala Kumari Makarla and Mrs Sumathi Naidu B.R.