The following could be used to mark and pray on World AIDS Day 2012  Read this HIV is a virus that attacks the human immune system. Around 90,000 people in the UK have the virus. Worldwide, 33 million people are HIV+. December 1st is World AIDS Day. Our World development & Relief Fund supports several partners who work in HIV/AIDS projects. As a church we have a responsibility to reflect upon this and act. Poverty and HIV/AIDS walk hand in hand. HIV can lead to poverty and living in poverty makes a person more open to infection. Share this story (from one of our World Development partners) Our Methodist World Development & Relief Fund supports several partner organisations whose work involves AIDS education and treatment and care for those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. World Development partner, Ebenezer Women’s Welfare Sangam, works with female sex workers in Tamil Nadu in India. Many are HIV+. EWWS does not just offer medical help, but also trains the women so that they can earn a living by alternative means. The project specifically supported by World Development & Relief helps 50 women and their families in milk production from dairy cows. One women tells her story: “I am Lakshmi. I belong to the Keeraikadu hamlet. I have four children – one boy and three girls. My husband works as a coolie on an estate and brings hardly any wages home. Due to this our family was in utter poverty. This forced me to become a sex worker and I stopped one of my girls from going to school and sent her to the estate to work as a coolie. I wanted to have the fees for my other children’s education. Then I had a chance to attend the HIV/AIDS prevention awareness programme conducted by EWWS. During this I was confirmed as HIV+. This plunged me into a deep sorrow. However, with a positive attitude I attended the counseling sessions and necessary further treatment. EWWS with the assistance from World Development & Relief selected me for the Animal Husbandry Training and supplied me a milch cow. Now I am doing well with the alternative profession. I am continuously taking treatment for my diseases free of charge from the Government Hospital. I earn around 3000 Rupees (€43 or £34) a month from the sale of milk. I can take care of my children. We are making a happy home - thanks to EWWS and World Development & Relief. “ The Ebenezer Women’s Welfare Sangam works with 50 such women and their families. Use this prayer – (Christian Aid – adapted) God of all the nations, so many of your children are crying out to you worn down by injustice and suffering. Help us to fulfill our goal of helping to make real the vision that Christ spoke of as ‘the kingdom of God’ where justice reigns. Help us to foster compassion one for another, tolerating damage to no one and oppression by no system. As we remember those living with HIV at this time may we use all our energy and imagination and trusting in your steadfast love be united in conquering disease and fear. We pray for our World Development partners who work with those infected with the HIV virus and with their families. May you give staff the knowledge and understanding that they need. May you give beneficiaries like Lakshmi the hope to live each day. May we, your church, be loving in our attitude and generous in our support. Make us compassionate as Christ was compassionate. Amen