Red Ribbon Club is a platform to enhance the knowledge levels about HIV/AIDS transmission and to encourage peer to peer messaging on HIV prevention and to provide a safe space for young people to seek clarifications of their doubts and on myths surrounding HIV/AIDS. The RRCs also promote Voluntary Blood Donation (VBD) among youths.

• RRC started in colleges in the UT of Puducherry during the year 2003 and is being implemented through the Directorate of Higher & Technical Education, Puducherry. At present, 70 RRCs are existing in the U.T of Puducherry.

Objectives:-

• To reduce HIV infection among youth by raising their risk perception through Behaviour Change Communication (BCC)
• To induce among youth the spirit to help and support people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs) thereby reduce stigma and discrimination against PLHIVs.
• To motivate youth and build their capacity as peer educators (PE) and change agents by developing their skills on leadership, negotiation and team building.
• To promote Voluntary Blood Donation among youth community.

Activities conducted by RRCs :

Red Ribbon Club programme with the main objective of bringing about behaviour change in young minds employs various strategies like:

• Imparting “Celebrating Life” – a 10 hours curriculum to the RRC Volunteers and Programme Officers by trained resource persons.
• Peer education and leadership trainings to the RRC volunteers
• As per the directions issued by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), New Delhi, every year Pondicherry AIDS Control Society organizes various competitions for college students and HIV/ AIDS awareness campaigns such as Rallies and Outreach activities during events like International Youth Day (IYD), World AIDS Day (WAD), National Youth Day (NYD), National Voluntary Blood Donors Day (NVBD), World Blood Donation Day (WBD) and International Women’s Day (IWD).
• Interactions with positive people, Transgender and ICTC Counselors.
• Exposure visits to ICTC, STI, ART, Blood Bank and HIV Community Centre by the RRC Volunteers